Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan with the Speaker of Saeima (Parliament) Ms. Inara Murniece
Riga (Latvia)
Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan, who is in Latvia, met Latvian President Mr. Raimonds Vejonis today. Observing that warm relations between India and Latvia are based on the abiding trust in democratic tradition and continued cooperation at global level, she said that the bilateral relations can be further strengthened by mutual high level governmental, parliamentary and cultural exchanges. She mentioned that the the visiting Indian Parliamentary Delegation had very fruitful meetings with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Latvian Parliament, which would provide a new momentum to mutual trust and cooperation.
Mrs Mahajan said that India and Latvia share a broad convergence of views on issues such as United Nations reforms and other aspects of global order. She appreciated Latvian support to India’s aspirations for Permanent membership of the reformed and expanded UN Security Council.
Reiterating her observations in earlier meetings held with the Latvian Prime Minister and Latvian Speaker, Smt. Mahajan congratulated Latvia for taking over the Chairmanship of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). She further reiterated that India attaches great importance to its developmental cooperation with fellow developing countries and that there is enormous scope for development cooperation between the two countries under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ( ITEC). She was of the view that the cooperation could be both for mutual benefit and also based on priorities determined by Latvia.
Both sides agreed to enhance economic and cultural ties, especially in the fields of environment, IT and logistics.
Earlier, Mrs Mahajan met the Speaker of Saeima (Parliament) Ms. Inara Murniece. On this occasion, she said that the dialogue between two Parliaments is a dialogue between the citadels of the two democracies and provides a unique platform to further and strengthen the overall relations between our two countries. She observed that India accords highest importance to parliamentary relations with Latvia and the continued dialogue, Parliamentary Friendship Group and the current visit would pave the way for taking the Indo-Latvian relations to the next stage. She thanked Ms. Murniece for the excellent hospitality extended to the Indian Parliamentary Delegation.