New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) Taking India's soft power global, President Ram Nath Kovind will be participating in this year's International Day of Yoga along with the President of Suriname Desi Bouterse on June 21 in Paramaribo.
"One important event of President's visit to Suriname will be that on the International Day for Yoga, President Kovind will be participating along with the President of Suriname and other dignitaries will be participating," Joint Secretary Latin America & Carribbean (LAC) Partha Satpathy told reporters here on Tuesday.
Answering questions, Press Secretary to the President, Ashok Mallik said that Yoga truly celebrates the spirit of richness of Indian culture and since UN adopted it, the development has gained its own importance.
"Wherever he would have been in on June 21, the International Day for Yoga, President Kovind would have participated in the same.
Because he will be in Suriname this year, he will participate in the same there itself.....Coincidentally, the President of Suriname has also agreed about the same. So Rasthtraptiji will preside over the Yoga celebrations on the International Day of Yoga in the presence of President Bouterse, other dignitaries and members of Indian diaspora," Mr Mallik said.
He further said even otherwise in his personal life, President Kovind takes keen interest in Yoga and undertakes the exercise regularly.
"President has spoken about Yoga and its helpfulness number of times and he is happy that he will participate in this year's event in Suriname," he said.
President Kovind will be in Suriname from June 19 to 21 in the second leg of his three-nation tour.
Prior to that he will be in Greece. After his official tour to Greece and Suriname, President will visit Cuba.
During his stay in Suriname, Joint Secretary Mr Satpathy said both side will sign a series of MoUs including one on election systems.
"Some significant MoUs will be signed ....some of them still are in final stage of negotiations. One of the most significant ones will be on elections.
Suriname is a functioning democracy and through this MoU with our Election Commission, best practices for strengthening democratic practices and democratic institutions and modalities will be reinforced," Mr Satpathy said.
In addition, Mr Satpathy said both sides will also sign agreements and MoUs in the areas of Health & Medicine, information technology and Ayurveda and traditional medicines.
UNI DEVN SHK 1800