Reply Speech from His Majesty Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev King of Nepal at the State Banquet hosted in honour of Their Majesties the King and Queen by His Excellency Mr K R Narayanan President of the Republic of India and Mrs Usha Narayanan in New Delhi, India

June 24, 2002

Mr. President and Madame Narayanan
Mr Prime Minister
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Thank you, Mr President, for the warm words of welcome and friendship you have just expressed about Nepal, the Nepalese people as well as of me personally. I am deeply touched by your friendly sentiments. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be in India at Your Excellency's kind invitation. I bring with me the warm greetings and good wishes of the Nepalese people in Your Excellency and the friendly people of India. The Queen and members of my entourage join me in expressing our sincere appreciation of the warmth of welcome and generous hospitality accorded us ever since our arrival here last evening

2. Earlier, Your Excellency, you were so King to share with me some of thoughts on matters of mutual interest. As usual, I have benefited from your sagacity and mature insights. I look forward to exchanging views with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other senior leaders of India during the course of my visit.

3. Relation between Nepal and India transcend the confines of customary diplomatic conventions. Both our people, since time immemorial, have drawn sustenance from the same philosophical fountain, shared the same cultural heritage and have been bound by the same ethos. As relationships are more important than rules, our engagement has a much greater depth of understanding and broader sweep vision. The extensive interaction at the people-to people level and contacts of leaders of both the countries have, over the years, contributed to strengthening the bonds that bind our two peoples together.

4. Sadly, our beloved brother, King Birendra who had made valuable contributions to strengthening our age -old ties is no longer amongst us. The world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel and if all the hues of human life take radiance and are rainbowed out in tears, one such stroke left the entire Nepalese people traumatised when they had to endure with much fortitude the loss of their King, Queen and several members of the Royal Family. I wish to take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation to Your Excellency and the government and people of India for the spontaneous outpouring of sympathy and support, which was much comforting at a time of great national grief.

5. The Nepalese people have keenly following India's achievements in science, technology and industry as well as in social and cultural fields. We are happy at your accomplishments and wish you further success in realising your potential in the days ahead. We believe that an economically vibrant and prosperous India is an asset not only to us but to our region as a whole. Despite her own pre-occupation, India has continued to be a valuable partner in Nepal's development endeavours, especially infrastructure building in such key areas as transport and communication, health, education and human resource development. On behalf of the people and government of Nepal, as well as on our own, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the people and Government of India for their generosity.

6. Mr President, my Government is engaged in promoting the general welfare of the people by accelerating the pace of social and economic development through multi-party democracy. An egalitarian and just society based on democratic norms and values are our primary goals. If freedom were not so economically efficient, it certainly would not stand a chance. Therefore, we direct our economic activities at poverty alleviation and social empowerment with a participatory approach to the process of development.

7. Nature has gifted Nepal abundant natural resources including a diverse flora and fauna. While tourism remains the mainstay of our economy, water resources has the potential to be our greatest asset. Nepal is willing to share these benefits with her neighbours. India, with her vast pool of technical manpower and expertise, can contribute significantly towards the development of industry, tourism and hydropower through investment in infrastructure and human resource development. I believe we should broaden the base of our cooperation to allow more space for private sector initiatives and people-to people cooperation to achieve greater development and harmony. My government is prepared to extend all necessary assistance to industrialists, businessmen and entrepreneurs from India to invest in Nepal.

8. Mr President, we believe the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) can be utilised as an effective means for the economic growth of our region. SAARC has been gradually emerging as a symbol of our regional Identity. I am happy to recall that Nepal had the privilege of successfully hosting the 11th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in January this year. The Kathmandu Summit has once again set in motion its mechanisms for undertaking cooperative endeavours at the regional level in South Asia. The promotion of complementarity and creation of an integrated market are essential in an increasingly globalised and fiercely competitive world. There is no reason why South Asia, with its huge reservoir of human and natural resources, should lag behind other regions.

9. We must, however, accept the fact that progress is possible only in an environment of peace and tranquility. It is unfortunate that our own region, South Asia, has also been mired in terrorist and disruptive activities. Terrorism is indeed a deadly menace, because it kills innocent people and strikes at the very roots of civilized behaviour as we have seen in the most blatant attacks of September 11 and December 13 last year. In recent years, Nepal too has been afflicted with this menace. Terrorists have launched a series of destructive and disruptive activities against society and at the very roots of democracy. My government has declared a state of emergency in the country and deployed armed forces in the interest of maintaining law and order and protecting the lives and liberty of the people. On behalf of the people and government of Nepal, I would like to take this occasion to express appreciation for the solidarity and support the Government of India has shown in our fight against terror.

10. Mr President, we are confident that our present State Visit will contribute significantly to enhancing the goodwill, good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation between Nepal and India to our mutual benefit in the years ahead. With these words, may I, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, ask you to join me in proposing a toast:

• to the health, happiness and long life of His Excellency the President of the Republic of India and Madame Narayanan,
• to the continued happiness, peace and progress of the people of India,
• and to the ever growing friendship between the Kingdom of Nepal and the Republic of India.

Thank you!