Preneet Kaur's Manila visit for interfaith dialogue for cooperation in peace

Manila (Philippines), Mar 19: Union Minister of State (MOS) for External Affairs Preneet Kaur visited Manila, Philippines, as the leader of the Indian delegation to the Special NAM Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on interfaith dialogue for cooperation in peace and development.

The three-day meeting concluded on Thursday, and over 70 Ministers of Foreign Affairs participated in the SNAMMM, which was the first Ministerial level meeting in the theme of interfaith dialogue, a subject under discussion in international fora for a few years now.

The meeting was inaugurated by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and culminated with the adoption of the Manila Declaration and Programme of Action on interfaith dialogue.

In her address to the meeting, Kaur highlighted the dangers of extremism and terrorism, which were the antithesis of all religions.

She also drew attention to India's tradition of give and take between faiths and cultures, and the interfaith conversation over millennia of its history, which had enriched and strengthened India.

Kaur further had useful bilateral interactions with the Foreign Ministers of Morocco, El Salvador and Serbia, on the margins of the Manila SNAMMM.

She had detailed interactions with representatives of the Indian community (estimated to number around 50,000) over the consular and other issues faced by the community.

Meanwhile, the Indian Ambassador in Manila, Rajeet Mitter, hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Minister of State, where she met with a number of local dignitaries, and prominent members of the Indian community.