New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for a two-day visit to South Korea, during which the two countries will seek to enhance cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment. MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the visit would strengthen India's special strategic partnership with South Korea and add dynamism to the Look East Policy. "Continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges. PM @narendramodi emplanes for Seoul on a 2-day State Visit to the Republic of Korea," he tweeted. Ahead of his visit, the prime minister described South Korea as an important partner for India's key initiatives such as 'Make in India', and said as fellow democracies the two nations share values and vision for regional and global peace. Modi is leaving for South Korea this evening on the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. This will be his second visit to the Republic of Korea and second summit meeting with President Moon. In his departure statement, he said his visit is reflective of the importance "we both attach to our relationship". "We regard the Republic of Korea as a valued friend, a nation with which we have a Special Strategic Partnership. As fellow democracies, India and the ROK have shared values and a shared vision for regional and global peace," the prime minister said. "As fellow market economies, our needs and strengths are complementary. South Korea is an important partner for our 'Make in India' initiative as well as in our 'Start Up India' and 'Clean India' initiatives," Modi said. He said collaboration between the two in the field of science and technology is encouraging, with joint research ranging from basic to advanced sciences. "Our people to people ties and exchanges, as always, provide the bedrock of our ties of friendship. We were touched by President Moon's decision to send the First Lady as his special representative at the 'Deepotsav' Festival held in Ayodhya last November," he said. The "growing depth and variety" in the relationship of the two countries has been accentuated by the harmony between New Delhi's Act East Policy and South Korea's New Southern Policy. "Working together, we are determined to take our relationship forward as a 'future oriented partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace'," the prime minister said.<doc-sep>Seoul: Primer Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held constructive talks on Friday on enhancing bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, defence and security. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to South Korea to strengthen India's strategic ties with the country, was accorded an official reception at the Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the South Korean President here. He also met First lady Kim Jung-sook. Addressing the media after the "productive talks" with President Moon, Prime Minister Modi said that South Korea is an important partner in India's economic transformation. Our trade and investment are growing, he said. PM @narendramodi & Korean President @moonriver365 held constructive talks on enhancing cooperation in trade & investment, defence & security, energy, space, Start-Ups and people-to-people exchanges, said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.<doc-sep>PM Narendra Modi receives the Seoul Peace Prize in South Korea Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received the Seoul Peace Prize from the South Korean government in recognition of his service to international cooperation, global growth and human development. "I am honoured to be awarded the Seoul Peace Prize. I believe that this award belongs not to me personally, but to the people of India. The award belongs to the success India has seen in less than five years, powered by 1.5 billion people," PM Modi said after taking the award. "I am even more honoured that this award has been given to me on the 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi's birth. It makes it even more special," said the Prime Minister. The PM arrived in Seoul on Thursday in his second visit to the Asian nation after his state visit in May 2015. Award dedicated to people of India. PM @narendramodi was conferred #SeoulPeacePrize in an award ceremony organised by Seoul Peace Prize Foundation in recognition of his efforts in promoting global peace & harmony through inclusive economic growth & improving quality of life. pic.twitter.com/cOrYVQymUY - Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 22, 2019 "Since 1988, the world has changed vastly... one of them being global poverty, which has declined significantly... But the challenges today are quite different too... Climate Change and terrorism are the two greatest threats the world faces today," PM Modi said. "The time has come for all right-thinking nations to join hands to completely eradicate terrorist networks. Only by doing so, Can we replace hate with harmony; destruction with development and transform the landscape of violence and vendetta into a postcard for peace," PM Modi said. "Like Korea, India has also suffered the pain of division and cross-border strife. Our endeavour towards peaceful development has only too often been derailed by cross-border terrorism," he said, as back home the country mourned the deaths of 40 CRPF soldiers in the Pulwama suicide attack last week and an angry nation called for revenge. He is the 14th recipient of the award sponsored by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation. Past winners include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and international relief organisations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. A short film on the life of PM Modi was also screened at the grand event. While conferring the award, the organisers acknowledged his policies such as the notes ban that it said contributed to the growth of the economy. The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul. It has its genesis in the Korean people's yearning for peace in the Korean peninsula.<doc-sep>Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the Seoul Peace Prize, at the award ceremony in Seoul, on Friday. (PIB/PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the Seoul Peace Prize, at the award ceremony in Seoul, on Friday. (PIB/PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to South Korea, was Friday awarded the Seoul Peace Prize for 2018 for his “contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth”. The award was presented to him by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation. A short film on the life and achievements of PM Modi was also screened at the event. Dedicating the prize to people of India, PM Modi said, “I believe that this award belongs not to me personally, but to the people of India. The success that India has achieved in the last 5 years is due to aspirations, inspiration and efforts of the people of India. On their behalf, I accept the Award and express my gratitude.” “I dedicate this award to the 1.3 billion people of India for giving me the opportunity to serve them. I am honoured that this award is being conferred on me in the year that we celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,” he added. Modi is the 14th recipient of the award and the past laureates include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and international relief organisations Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. Also Read | Time for global community to unite and fight terrorism: PM Modi in South Korea PM Modi contributed the monetary award of $200,000 to the Namami Gange Programme (National Mission for Clean Ganga). Watch | PM Modi receives Seoul Peace Prize About the award, Modi said, “The Seoul Peace Prize was established to commemorate the success of the 24th Summer Olympics held in Seoul in 1988. The games ended on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The games showcased the best of Korean culture, warmth of Korean hospitality and success of the Korean economy.” Mentioning how terrorism is the biggest threat to global peace and security, the Prime Minister said, “It was a few weeks before the Seoul Olympics that Al-Qaeda was formed. Today, radicalisation and terrorism have become globalised and are the biggest threats to global peace and security.” “India’s growth story is not only good for the people of India but also for the entire world. We live in an increasingly interconnected world. Our growth and prosperity will inevitably contribute to global growth and development. India, as a responsible member of the international community, has been in the forefront of our collective fight against climate change. Despite having a historically low carbon footprint, India has been playing an active role in the global fight against climate change,” he said. South Korea honour Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi with Seoul Peace Price award. pic.twitter.com/sJpi6NxbIt — BJP (@BJP4India) February 22, 2019 He also said, “Like Korea, India has also suffered the pain of division and cross-border strife. Our endeavour towards peaceful development has only too often been derailed by cross-border terrorism.” Asserting that the time has come for all right-thinking nations to join hands to completely eradicate terrorist networks, PM Modi said, “Only by doing so, can we replace hate with harmony; destruction with development and transform the landscape of violence and vendetta into a postcard for peace.” Hoping for a better tomorrow, PM Modi quoted a portion of the 1988 Olympics Theme Song — Hand in hand, we stand All across the land, We can make this world, A better place in which to live — and said, “It perfectly captures the hopeful spirit for a better tomorrow for all of us.” While conferring the award on Modi, the award committee recognised his contribution to the growth of Indian and global economies, crediting ‘Modinomics’ for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor. The committee also credited him for his contribution toward regional and global peace through a proactive policy with countries around the world. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held bilateral talks with South Korea President Moon Jae-in on a host of issues including trade, investment, defence and security, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a tweet.<doc-sep>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit to strengthen India’s strategic ties with South Korea and seek to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment. Ahead of his visit, the prime minister described South Korea as an important partner for India’s key initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, and said as fellow democracies the two countries share values and vision for regional and global peace. Modi is visiting South Korea on the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. This is his second visit to the Republic of Korea since 2015 and second summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said the visit would strengthen India’s special strategic partnership with South Korea and add dynamism to the Look East Policy. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral and business engagements, unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and accept the Seoul Peace Prize conferred upon him, Kumar said in a tweet. Earlier in his departure statement, Modi said his visit is reflective of the importance “we both attach to our relationship”. “We regard the Republic of Korea as a valued friend, a nation with which we have a Special Strategic Partnership. As fellow democracies, India and the ROK have shared values and a shared vision for regional and global peace,” the prime minister said. “As fellow market economies, our needs and strengths are complementary. South Korea is an important partner for our ‘Make in India’ initiative as well as in our ‘Start Up India’ and ‘Clean India’ initiatives,” Modi said. He said collaboration between the two in the field of science and technology is encouraging, with joint research ranging from basic to advanced sciences. “Our people to people ties and exchanges, as always, provide the bedrock of our ties of friendship,” he said. “Working together, we are determined to take our relationship forward as a ‘future oriented partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace’,” the prime minister said.