Parliament Complex is a small tribute to your progress as a nation: Modi
KABUL - Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Friday jointly inaugurated an India-funded new parliament building in Kabul.
"This Parliament Complex is a small tribute to your progress as a nation ... It will stand as an enduring symbol of the ties of emotions and values, of affection and aspirations that bind us in a special relationship," Modi told an inauguration ceremony attended by members of both houses of the Afghan parliament and Afghan government in the new building.
The Indian prime minister said that India supports Afghan government's efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the country and will deepen cooperation with Afghanistan in various fields.
"When you began a new journey in a new century, we were proud to stand with you and walk with you," Modi said, adding "India will be with you."
President Ghani expressed gratitude for India's assistance to the country's reconstruction efforts.
"On behalf of the people of Afghanistan and Afghan government, I'd like to express sincere thanks to the Indian people and government for providing assistance to Afghanistan. We remain ever thankful to all the valuable assistance of India," Ghani said at the event.
The path of cooperation between India and Afghanistan will be broader, the Afghan leader added.
India will also hand over three military helicopters, which already arrived in Kabul, to Afghan security forces later on Friday, according to Ghani.
In a meeting with Afghanistan's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah, Modi reiterated the calls for strengthening democracy and peace in the region.
The CEO hailed Modi's milestone visit to Afghanistan and said both nations were bound to a common future.
Referring to the democratic process in the region, Modi said regional nations have to contribute more in order to institutionalize democracy in its real sense.
"Democracy cost much to us and to all those countries where democracy is nourishing. We have been victim of the process of promoting democracy. Because we save our people while confrontations are on its peak and this is a great responsibility," Modi said.
In his remarks, Abdullah announced India as the trusted friend of Afghanistan and hailed New Delhi for its military, economic and education cooperation to the Afghan people.
"We warmly welcome his excellency Prime Minister of India and the generous support offered by India for inaugurating the new building of parliament and also his comprehensive speech relating to bilateral ties, the situations in both countries and future of the two countries," Abdullah said.
The new parliament building, located in the southwest of Kabul, had been built in a period of eight years at a cost of some 220 million U.S. dollars, according to officials.
India has contributed more than 2.2 billion U.S. dollars to Afghanistan since 2002.
The Afghan security forces were deployed in all sensitive roads leading to Afghan Presidential Palace and new parliament building to ensure security during the ceremony. (Xinhua)