Noting that historic Tahrir Square protests had evoked feelings of "admiration and respect" among Indians, President Pranab Mukherjee has said youths hold the key to progress of India and Egypt which must explore news ways of engagement towards nation building.
"It has been now more than two years since the historic events at Tahrir Square. We, in India, watched with admiration and respect as the young crowds in Cairo chanted Selmiyya Selmiyya (peacefully, peacefully) and echoed the words of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi...," Mukherjee said during a banquet for Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi at Rashtrapati Bhavan here yesterday.
Morsi is on three-day maiden visit to India beginning March 18.
"As we strive to provide greater economic opportunities, and channelise the energies of our youth towards nation building, we recognise that it cannot be business as usual. We must find new ways of engagement within our societies and between our countries," Mukherjee said.
He said the future will be determined by the youth of our nations.
"India and Egypt may be ancient cultures, but our people are young, and their aspirations, hopes and grievances will determine our progress," the President said.
Thousands of people had protested at Tahrir Square in Egypt's capital Cairo in 2011 demanding faster pace of political reforms leading to the ouster of the nearly three-decade-old Hosni Mubarak government.
Mukherjee said two years ago, the people of Egypt chose to walk the long and difficult path of democracy. "I use the metaphor of the road deliberately, since we in India know today, 65 years after independence, that democracy is neither a destination nor an absolute principle," the President said adding that India stands ready to walk with Egypt to a more perfect future.
Mukherjee also sought Egypt's participation and cooperation in international fora to build a genuinely represented global order.
"At the international level, Egypt and India have worked together closely, recognising that in our inter-connected world, threats and opportunities, whether it be climate change, terrorism or trade are truly transnational issues.
"We are confident of your support and participation in revitalising South-South cooperation, particularly in the Non-Aligned Movement and in the Group of 77. We seek your active cooperation in building a genuinely representative global order," the President said.
On the Palestinian issue, he said India was looking forward to work with Egypt. "We stand with you in our unequivocal support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and look forward to working closely with you in realising that goal.
