Seoul (South Korea): Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about Buddhist link in China and Mongolia, disclosed Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs, Anil Wadhwa to the media here on Monday.
While addressing a press meet, Wadhwa said, “We talked about maritime security & cooperation in maritime security. We have linkage in Buddhism as well. And its also reason why tourism from South Korea to India can increase.”
“It is true that PM in China and Mongolia talked about Buddhist link. And in Mongolia we also gifted a sapling of Bodhi tree,” he added.
Wadhwa further informed that the sapling of Bodhi tree was already gifted to South Korea last year.
India and South Korea today also agreed to upgrade the monument for Queen Suriratna/Hur-Hwang-ok in Ayodhya as a joint project between the two sides.
President Park Geun-hye expressed deep appreciation of Korean people for the gift of holy Bodhi tree sapling from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
President Park and Prime Minister Modi called for an intensification of youth delegations to encourage greater understanding and interaction between the future leaders of the two countries.
The Indian side expressed interest in enhancing cooperation among educational institutes of the two sides, including among relevant technological institutes and in language teaching.
Both leaders agreed to encourage establishment of twin city and twin province or state relationships to deepen and broaden people-to-people exchanges.
Korea invited India to participate in the exhibition titled 'Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture, 100 BCE-700CE' which will commemorate National Museum of Korea's 10th anniversary of reconstruction and opening to the public.
India welcomed the invitation and agreed to actively cooperate.
The two leaders hoped to promote mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries, and to broaden cultural relations of the two countries. They also agreed to further explore cooperation on preservation, restoration, and joint research in the field of cultural heritage of India and South Korea.
India also invited Korea to participate in the two day seminar on 'Shared Heritage as New Variable in the Indo-Korean Relations: Historicizing the Legend of Princess from Ayodhya and its Legacy' being organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with India International Centre in New Delhi. Korea welcomed the invitation.
(With ANI inputs)
