New Delhi: - Deputy Chief of Mission M. Ashraf Haidari was invited as Guest of Honor, joining the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Professor Sudhir Kumar Sopory, to open an International Food Festival at the University on January 26, 2015. The University’s large foreign student body participated in the Festival, serving the authentic cuisine of their countries. Afghanistan’s graduate students not only played a leading role in organizing the event but also served those in attendance delicious Afghan dishes, representing different parts of Afghanistan. The event had attracted a large number of students and people in the local community, including tourists.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Haidari thanked Vice Chancellor Sopory for his dedicated leadership, which, among other things, encouraged and supported international students, including Afghans, to organize and host such a well-attended Food Festival. “Events like this do much to bring our nations and cultures closer in a spirit of friendship, tolerance, understanding, and cooperation,” said Mr. Haidari. He also thanked Afghan students for the active role, which they played in helping organize and participate in the Festival. “I am very proud of our students, who have worked so hard to serve everyone this evening Afghanistan’s authentic, delicious dishes,” said Mr. Haidari and encouraged everyone to visit and taste Afghan cuisine. The evening was a huge success for the Afghan students, attracting long lines of Indian and foreign students to enjoy Afghan cuisine.
Moreover, Mr. Haidari extended the gratitude of the Afghan people and government to the people and government of India for the continued support, which they have provided for Afghanistan’s reconstruction, especially through higher education and institutional capacity building. “We immensely value our ancient,civilizational ties with India, which underpin our present strong friendship and strategic partnership,” said Mr.Haidari. “Thanks to India, thousands of young Afghans have been empowered through education gained in India to return home and serve Afghanistan, on the basis of our many, intertwined interests aimed at bolstering regional stability and prosperity,” he added.
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