Dr. Velayati’s Speech At Conference In Singapore ‘Growth Through Interaction — The South Asian Opportunity’
MEP: Asian countries need to work together more than ever to achieve objectives of growth and development and fight violence and extremism.
Dr. Velayati visited Singapore and Malaysia on Monday, July 18 at the invitation of officials in the two cities and delivered a speech at the South Asian Diaspora Convention (SADC) entitled ‘Growth through Interaction — The South Asian Opportunity’ that was attended by Iran’s ambassador to Singapore, Javad Ansari, the Prime Minister of Singapore and a number of officials from countries in the region.
At the beginning of the ceremony President of the Conference thanked Dr. Velayati, the Supreme Leader’s advisor and Iran former foreign minister, for his efforts to promote cooperation and integration in Asia as well as strengthening bilateral cooperation between Iran and Singapore.
In the ceremony, Head of Expediency Council and Center for Strategic Research, as a prelude to the problems of human society said: “Poverty, underdevelopment, insecurity, unilateralism and extremism, including human society problems”.
Some Asian countries are also facing the same problems that requires regional integration and development cooperation to achieve lasting security and fight extremism and terrorism to achieve objectives of growth and development. These common factors among countries in the region should be taken into consideration more than ever.
Dr Velayati, referring to Iran’s Islamic government’s policies in the formalization of borders, rule of law, respect for the people’s vote in state elections: Iran, as a country has a sustainable security within a troubled region with broad and unmatched ability fighting all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism (the use of force, military force and coups, violence and separation, as is the case in Yemen, Syria, Iraq).
Iran as a country affected by terrorism and extremism took serious measures in fighting such currents. Dr. Velayati called on Asian countries to further cooperation in this area.
Iran in additions to huge economic potentials, stability and security, seeks to develop Free Economic Zones especially in Makran and Chabahar for their international importance and plentiful economic capabilities. Such qualities provide a good platform for cooperation with Asian countries and development. Dr. Velayati pointed out.
It is noteworthy that development of this cooperation can lead to the revival of the silk road as well as deepening and strengthening cooperation with Asia.
In another part of his speech he added “Unfortunately for the same reasons some citizens have been forced to displacement and migration.
Such unpleasant phenomenon can be addressed by collaborating in the fight against extremism and violence for achieving development and dialogue between cultures.
In the remaining time of the conference Dr. Velayati answered questions on the subject.
Conference took place on Monday and Tuesday 18 and July 19 in Singapore and attended by senior officials (Leee Hustan Lunk) Prime Minister Singapore, (Ranil Akramasenk) Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, (Fuean Balakrishnan) Singapore Foreign Minister, (Nitin Gadkara) and Minister of Transport in India (ABS Aasuaran) Minister of Industry and Trade in Singapore, (Chandra Babu Naidu) Prime Minister of India, (Aandrani Raja) chairman and Deputy Minister of Finance and law at Singapore, (Mangala Samaraweera) Sri Lanka Foreign minister (Tharman Hanmugaratnam) Deputy Prime Minister in Singapore, (Subrata Mitra) ( Gopinat Pillay) Director and chairman of the cradle of studies in South Asia, more than 100 scientists, activists, global economist from Japan, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Britain, Pakistan and Australia.
On Sunday evening a dinner program was held and attended by Dr. Mahbubani, Singapore former ambassador to the United Nations and head of its research center during which ways of cooperation in the field of strategic research.
