On Diwali, PM Modi bats for festival tourism
New Delhi: Extending Diwali greetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday batted for promoting "festival tourism" in the country, saying we should welcome people from other states and countries while celebrating festivals such as Holi and Pongal.
In his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, he also referred to the unique "Swachh Siachen" campaign launched by soldiers to clean up the icy battlefield of 130 tonne of trash.
He said the feat is remarkable as nothing decomposes in the icy heights easily.
With the country celebrating the 550th Prakash Utsav or birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November, the prime minister referred to his teachings of peace, harmony and equality.
Paying tributes to then prime minister Indira Gandhi ahead of her death anniversary on October 31, Modi also urged people to participate in large numbers in the "run for unity" on Thursday.
The marathon is organised every year on October 31 since 2014 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While referring to tourism, he said the Statue of Unity in Gujarat has drawn 26 lakh tourists in its first year.
It has generated employment opportunities for locals also. Modi said festival tourism has its own exciting attractions. India, the country of festivals, possesses limitless possibilities in the realm of festival tourism.
"It must be our endeavour to ensure that we should welcome people of other states, other countries when we celebrate Holi, Diwali, Onam, Pongal or Bihu, spreading their true spirit," he said.
Every state, every region is replete with distinct festivals, generating a lot of interest in people from other countries, he said. The Indian diaspora has a significant role to play in promoting festival tourism in India, he suggested.
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Xi, Trump reach series of new common understandings: China's foreign ministry
Beijing (PTI): Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump had an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning the two countries and the world, and reached a series of new common understandings, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.
Xi and Trump, who is on a three-day visit to China, met twice on Thursday and discussed a range of bilateral and global issues.
Trump is due to leave on Friday after a luncheon meeting with Xi.
Summing up the outcomes of Trump’s visit to Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning the two countries and the world and reached a series of new common understandings.
They agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability to provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations over the next three years and beyond.
The two presidents also agreed to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations, and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world, said a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson.
Trump visited China at the invitation of Xi.
The two presidents are meeting in person again for the first time since their Busan meeting last October, and it is the first visit to China by a US president in nine years, the statement said.
On Thursday, President Xi held a welcome ceremony and a banquet for Trump, held talks and visited the Temple of Heaven with him.
VIDEO | Beijing: On second day of bilateral talks, US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for 'incredible' China trip.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 15, 2026
Trump says, "Thank you very much. This has been an incredible visit. I think a lot of good has come of it. We've made some… pic.twitter.com/7A7lbEzLdC
