In a joyous celebration of the enduring friendship
between the two countries, Switzerland Ambassador Ralf Heckner said, “Switzerland
is the only country that is celebrating 75 years of friendship with India”.
The occasion, marked by a unique Swiss Art Night,
emphasised the deep-seated values of peace, unity, and artistic collaboration
that have characterised this remarkable partnership.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Heckner emphasised
that seventy-five years ago, Bharat chose Switzerland as its first friend and
partner, signing a friendship treaty that envisioned perpetual peace and
unalterable friendship between the two nations.
“Today we are celebrating 75 years of friendship
between Switzerland and India. 75 years ago, India chose Switzerland as the
first country to sign a friendship treaty with and in that friendship treaty,
it was written that the two countries should be together in perpetual peace and
unalterable friendship. Very wise words of foresight. The world is indeed in
great need of more perpetual peace and unalterable friendship,” said Heckner.
“We are actually not only celebrating 75 years of
diplomatic relations, Switzerland is the only country that is celebrating 75
years of friendship with India because India had chosen Switzerland after
independence as the first country to sign a friendship treaty with,” he said.
The Swiss envoy said in a world marked by turmoil and
conflicts, it was poignant that the Swiss embassy celebrated peace and
friendship.
“So, in a time of war… the Swiss embassy, is
celebrating peace and friendship. That’s what it is all about today. We are also
celebrating the collaboration between Swiss and Indian people,” Heckner added.
The ambition has always been to foster a spirit of
cooperation and co-creation between the two nations, he said.
“It is always the ambition of this embassy and of the
whole Swiss network in India to see the Swiss and the Indian people work
together, to co-create together. I wish you all a wonderful evening in
friendship and peace,” said the Swiss envoy.
The Swiss Art Night was a fitting testament to this
extraordinary partnership. Titled “Switzerland and India in Bloom,” the event
symbolised the blossoming of their 75-year-long friendship.
The theme of blooming flowers captured the essence of
their relationship, with a mesmerizing flower show featuring the works of Swiss
and Indian floral artists, he added.
The Swiss Ambassador also underscored the message of
peace and friendship that the event sought to convey.
“The message that we would like to send out today is a
message of peace and friendship. Because those were the objectives of the
bilateral treaty. And over the last 75 years, Switzerland and India have been
enjoying peace and friendship together,” he said.
ANI
