Jammu, Feb 16: The Kashmir University will host World Universities Youth Festival in 2007 to bring Kashmir University students much closer to the world, chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Thursday.
Azad was addressing a valedictory function of South Asian Universities Youth Festival (SAUFEST), Harmony-2006 at Abhinav Theatre here.
The Chief Minister congratulated Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and University of Jammu for organising such a “big event” and asked AIU to organise such festival in University of Kashmir.
“The AIU should plan for organising such event at Kashmir and I assure them full co-operation of the state government for making the event a success,” Azad said.
The move, he said, would pave way for Kashmir University students “to come closer to rest of the world.”
Terming SAUFEST as the platform for the scholars of South Asian countries to understand the region and its socio-cultural importance, the Chief Minister said such events encourage youth to work for mutual understanding.
Azad appealed scholars and intellectuals to come forward for the overall development of the state. “Role of students, scholars and intellectuals is to create ideas and make platforms to be followed by the society,” the Chief Minister said.
Underlining the role of South Asian countries for the development of the region, Azad said that South Asian countries have to play key role in the process of progress. “Countries of South Asian share common culture and facing unanimous problems and hence must work together to overcome mutual hurdles for the socio-economic development of the region,” says CM.
“If South Asian countries really want to become dynamic strength then they must come forward for the economic integrity,” Azad said.
“The youth of the country has realized that path of development can be achieved only in peaceful environment and this is possible only when there is mutual understanding between the neighboring countries.” Later Governor Lt General (retired) SK Sinha, who also addressed the gathering, said that participants should return as “ambassadors of peace and prosperity.” The South Asian region, he said, will become peaceful and achieve prosperity, if “we shed the thoughts of hatred and disrespect for other nations.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Feb 2006 21:30:00 Mecca time
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