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Congress President with Foreign Visitors

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Chinese Prime Minister Shri Wen Jiabao in New Delhi on 10th April 2005

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi with Ms. Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, in New Delhi on 6th March 2005

This month has been an eventful month where foreign affairs is concerned. We have had the visit of Smt. Condoleezza Rice to the country leading to a rapid reappraisal of Indo-US relations. The American offer of nuclear technology and other military equipment needs to be carefully examined without allowing ideological posturing, of both the left and the right to take over.

We have also seen the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. This visit too is remarkable in that it shows the rapid strides that have been made in Sino-Indian relations. Both countries by not allowing the boundary question to hold back trade and cultural ties have shown that it is possible to be good neighbours despite differences. Similarly, this month we saw the restart of Srinagar- Muzzaffarabad Bus service. This is certainly a firm step forward in the direction of greater people to people contacts. It is only be removing the misgivings of the common people that lasting peace can ever be achieved in the valley. The fact that both governments supported this venture will strengthen the process of CBM's amongst the two.

Last but not the least, the recreated Dandi March to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the original was successfully completed. On the closing day the Prime Minister and Smt Gandhi addressed a rally of more than two lakh people who had come from all over the world to participate in it. It was a tribute to a great man and the everlasting relevance of his philosophy for India's secular and composite culture

A NEW HISTORY IS BEING CREATED
So said Smt. Sonia Gandhi while flagging-off the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service

KARVAN-E-AMAN
The caravan of peace sets out, says Prime Minister while flagging-off of the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service

COVER STORY
Dr. Ravni Thakur writes about the change in relations and development likely after the reopening of the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service

EAM's LAHORE ADDRESS
Shri Natwar Singh's assessment of the Premise and promise of India-Pakistan long-term relations

DANDI MARCH-2005
The Congress president said that Gandhiji is not the past but also the future during her address on the conclusion of Dandi March

OPINION
CWC Member, Shri Ramesh Chennithala speaks about the role of CPM in Indian polity

CONCLAVE ON HEALTH
The UPA will make health the centre of political discourse, says Smt. Sonia Gandhi

VIEWPOINT
Smt. Sonia Gandhi has been correct to a fault, feels AICC secretary Archana Dalmia

CP'S SPEECH
The Congress president, Smt Sonia Gandhi speaks at the launching of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana

ANALYSIS
Shri A.Vaidyanathan speaks about panchayats and their role in employment generation

STATES WATCH

MAHILA CONGRESS

AICC DIARY

PHOTOFILE