 Mr. Ramodi, who has been honored with the award. Chairman of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, Mr. Kwon E-Hok, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Moon He-Sang, Minister for Culture, Mr. Do Jong-Hwan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, other members of Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, distinguished dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, friends, Namaskar, Ayong, Haseo, Yorabun, greetings to all. I am deeply honored to be awarded the Seoul Peace Prize. I believe that this award belongs not to me personally, but to the people of India. The award belongs to the success that India has achieved in the last then five years, powered by the strengths and skills of 1.3 billion Indians. And so on that behalf I humbly accept the award and express my gratitude. This award is a recognition of the philosophy that has given the message of Vasudev Kutum Kham, which means the entire world is one family. The award is for the culture that has given the message of peace even on the battlefield as Lord Krishna gave the teachings of Bhagavad Gita during the battle in the Mahabharata. This award is for a land where we are taught Om Dayo Shanti Hi, Antrich Ghum Shanti Hi, Prithvi Shanti Hi, Aapah Shanti Hi, Aushadhaya Shanti, Vanaspataya Shanti, Vishwadeva Shanti, Brahma Shanti, Sarvahum Shanti Shanti, Evam Shanti, Sama Shanti, Homeshanti Shanti Shanti, which means may there be peace everywhere in the sky, in the space, all over planet, in nature, may there be eternal peace and this award is for the people who have always put societal good above individual's ambitions. And I am honored that this award is being confirmed on me in the year that we celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. I would like to contribute the monetary award of 200,000 dollars that 1 crore, 30 lakh rupees to the Namami Ganga Fund, our efforts to clean a river that is not only held, sacred by all the people of India, but is also an economic lifeline to millions of my countrymen and women. And the sole peace prize was established to mark the success and spirit of the 24 summer Olympics held in Seoul in 1988. India remembers the games quite well because they ended on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, 2nd October. The games showcase the best of Korean culture, the warmth of Korean hospitality and the success of the Korean economy. And not to forget, they mark the arrival of a new sporting powerhouse in the global arena. But the games were also an important landmark in world history. The 1988 Olympics were held at a time of many changes in the world. The Iran-Iraq War had just ended. The Geneva Accords relating to the situation in Afghanistan had been signed earlier that year. The Cold War was ending and there was great hope that the new golden age will soon dawn. And for a while it did. The world is better in many aspects today that it was in 1988. Global poverty has been steadily falling. Healthcare and education outcomes have been improving and yet many daunting global challenges remain. Some are old, some new. A few months before the Seoul Olympics, the first public warnings about climate change were sounded. Today it is recognized as a big threat to humankind. A few weeks before the Seoul Olympics, an organization called Al Qaeda was formed. Today radicalization and terrorism have become globalized and are the biggest threats to global peace and security. And millions of people around the world still remain without adequate and quality access to food, shelter, healthcare, sanitation, power and above all dignity of life. Clearly there is a lot more that needs to be done. The solution to the hardship we face is in hard work and India is doing her part. We have been working to improve the well-being of the people of India who form one sixth of humanity. India is today the fastest growing large economy in the world with strong economic foundations, fundamentals. This has been possible because of the major economic changes that we have introduced. Flaxseed initiatives such as Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Clean India have contributed to visible socio-economic growth. We have focused on financial inclusion, access to credit, digital transactions, last mile connectivity and support to small and medium enterprise so as to spread development across the country and enrich all the citizens of India. The Swachh Bharat Abhyan is making India clean from a sanitation coverage of around 38% in 2014. The number today stands at 98%. The Ujwala Yojana is improving the lives of rural women through use of clean cooking fuel. Aishman Bharat is providing healthcare and insurance to 500 million poor and vulnerable people and through these initiatives and many more we have contributed to holistic development of India's march towards achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals. In all our efforts we are guided by Mahatma Gandhi's teaching that we should recall the face of the poorest and the weakest person that we have ever seen and ask ourselves if the step that we plan is going to be of any benefit that person, friends. India's growth story is not only good for the people of India but also for the entire world. We live in an increasingly connected world. At the third largest economy our growth and prosperity will inevitably contribute to global growth and development. We are committed to make a peaceful stable and economically interlinked world. India as a responsible member of the international community has also been in the forefront of our collective fight against climate change. Despite having a historically low carbon footprint, India has been playing an active role in the global fight against climate change. At the domestic level this has been done by unveiling our national action plan to reduce carbon emissions, increase forest cover and replacing traditional carbon fuels with renewable energy supplies. On the international plane we have partnered with like-minded countries to launch the International Solar Alliance which aims to harness the clean and unlimited solar energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. We are one of the largest troop contributing countries for UN peacekeeping operations and we are proud to have been able to contribute the peace on the Korean Peninsula. We have extended a helping hand to countries in need and participated actively in humanitarian work and disaster relief. We have carried out operations in conflict zones and rescued not only Indians but also nationals of many other countries. We have been an active and considerate development partner for other developing countries with our guiding principle being to help in developing their physical and social infrastructure. Through these efforts we seek to ensure that the benefits of a globalized and interconnected world are equally experienced by all. Over the past two years my government has renewed interaction and force new partnership across continents. In the East Asian context we have redefined our engagements with countries in the region including with Republic of Korea under our Act East policy. I am glad to hear an echo of our approach in President Moon's new southern policy. Friends, India has been the land of peace for ages. The people of India have practiced the concept of peace and harmonious coexistence for thousands of years with hundreds of languages and dialects, many states and major regions. India is proud to be one of the most diverse nations in the world. We are proud that ours is a land where people of all faiths, beliefs and communities can prosper. We are proud that ours is a society based not only on tolerance but on celebration of difference and diverse cultures. Friends, like Korea, India has also suffered the pain of cross border strife. Our endeavor towards peaceful development has only too often been derailed by cross border terrorism while India has been the victim of cross border terrorism for over 40 years. All nations today face this grave threat which respect no borders. The time has come for all those who believe in humanity to join hands to completely eradicate terrorist networks and their financing supply channels and counter terrorist ideology and propaganda. Only by doing so can we replace hate with harmony, destruction with development and transform the landscape of violence and vendetta into a postcard for peace. Friends, progress over the past years towards peace and the Korean peninsula had been heartening President Moon deserves all the praise for the role he has played in overcoming the legacy of mutual distress and suspicion between the DPRK and the international community and bringing them to the discussion table. This is no small achievement. I state again my government's strong support to the ongoing dialogue process between the two Koreas and between the USA and DPRK. At the popular Korean saying goes Shijagi Bhanida, a good beginning is half the battle. I have every confidence that with continued efforts from the Korean people, peace will soon prevail on the Korean peninsula. Friends, I would like to end by quoting a portion of the 1988 Olympics theme song because it perfectly captured the hopeful spirit for the better tomorrow for all of us. Hand in hand, we stand. Hand in hand, we stand. All across the land, we can make this world a better place in which to live. Khamsa Hamnida. Thank you. Thanks a lot.