Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 1: The Korean Ambassador to India, Jae-bok Chang today visited the University of Kashmir with top officials of the Korean Embassy in an effort to develop future cooperation and partnership in the ‘mutual areas’ of academics, research and culture.
The visiting delegation thereafter interacted with top academic administrators and officers of the University at a session chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nilofar Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, Jae-bok Chang said the delegation aims to develop cooperation and future partnerships in the domains of mutual interest related to academics, research and culture, among others.
“We want an increased people-to-people contact between India and South Korea. Under our global education programme, we have taken 24 Indian students in 2021 and this figure is expected to rise in the current year,” the Ambassador said, assuring that the Korean Embassy will make “more efforts” to develop more partnerships.
At the meeting, top University officers and Deans put forth their valuable suggestions about areas which could be explored to develop such tie-ups.
The visiting Ambassador sought from the University detailed proposals where such collaborations could be developed and assured to work towards realising the goal.
Jae-bok Chang later gave a power-point presentation before the varsity students on ‘India-Korea: Partners with Shared History and Common Future’, discussing in detail the India-Korea historical relations, Korea’s trade ties with India, Korea’s economic development and progression towards democracy and the deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds between the two countries. He also interacted with students.
The visiting delegation comprised Gu Jung-hyun, spouse of the Ambassador; Park Jo min, Ist Secretary (Political); Lee Seunghyun, 2nd Secretary (Political); Shin Wonho, 3rd Secretary (Consular) and Ahn Hyesun, Embassy staff.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan Tuesday inaugurated a two-day national conference on ‘Connecting Central Asia: Opportunities and Challenges’. The conference has been organised by the Centre of Central Asian Studies (CCAS).
Former Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia, Ashok Sajjanhar delivered the keynote address, discussing in detail the historical and current status of ties between India and Central Asia.
In her welcome address, Director CCAS Prof Tabassum Firdous highlighted the achievements of the CCAS. A book titled ‘Revisiting Himalayan Borderlands: A bridge between India and Central Asia’, authored by Prof Taraek A Rather, Dr Ajmal Shah and Dr Mumtaz Yatoo was also released by the Vice-Chancellor on the occasion.
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