India an important player on world stage, says Dutch Deputy PM Hoekstra

Lisse (Netherlands), April 5: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra termed India as an important player on the world stage, adding that Amsterdam attaches tremendous importance to the friendship between the two countries. While cherishing its friendship with India, Hoekstra on Tuesday said that the relationship blossomed in past and is great in present times and is poised to be better in the future. Speaking about the importance of the three-day visit of President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind, he added, "To us, this is of tremendous importance, and we truly cherish this friendship with India -- such an important player on the world stage. I also feel delighted, privileged and honoured to have the President and First Lady here. This shows the tremendous importance of this relationship." Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Hoekstra stated that President Kovind's visit demonstrates the depth and breadth of friendship, bilateral connections, and trade relations between the two countries. Also Read | ICICI bank in soup; tells Covid orphans to repay home loan "India and the Netherlands celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. Today President Kovind and I named a tulip 'Maitri' (=friendship). At this time, it is important to discuss our shared values with an important partner like India and continue to strengthen our cooperation," Hoekstra said on Twitter. "It is a friendship we cherish, a great bilateral relationship and it also is a signal that we are both willing to invest and make this blossom even more in future and in years to come," he added. He appreciated the efforts and contributions of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands. "We are proud to have Indian diaspora, they are very much involved in our society. They are very much involved in business and in all other aspects of life. We cherish them being here, making a big contribution to our society," Hoekstra remarked. At the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, President Kovind is visiting the Netherlands. This is the first presidential visit to the Netherlands in 34 years since the 1988 visit of President R Venkataraman. Also Read | Sonia Gandhi calls for 'unity at all levels', says Congress' revival essential for democracy -PTC News