BRIEF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRI RAM NATH KOVIND AT THE BANQUET HOSTED IN HIS HONOUR BY THE PRESIDENT OF GAMBIA
Banjul : 31.07.2019
1. It is an honour for me to be paying the first ever State Visit from India to the Gambia. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Barrow and to the people of this smiling country for their warm welcome and gracious hospitality. I am deeply touched by the gesture of The Gambia to hold a special session of the National Assembly for me to address.
2. India and The Gambia share long-standing and historic friendship. Our common vision of peace, prosperity and development for our people has brought us closer. Ours is a relationship shaped by history, nurtured by democratic values and fostered by warm people-to-people ties. In recent times, our bilateral cooperation has gathered steam; especially in the areas of development partnership, economic collaboration and support for each other on global issues.
3. We thank you for your support for the International Solar Alliance. Its energy shall ever illuminate our friendship and lead the path for our new-age partnership.
4. On that happy note, may I invite you, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen to join me in raising a toast: - to the health, happiness and well-being of President Barrow; - to the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Republic of The Gambia; and, - to the ever-lasting friendship between the peoples of our two countries.
India and The Gambia - ca kaaw ca kanam!