Highlighting that efforts are on to get Hindi recognised as an official language at the United Nations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that though progress has been made in that direction, it will take some time.
“You would know Hindi is being used in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As far as the use of Hindi in its headquarters is concerned, we have an MoU with them. They are using it in social media and newsletters. It will take some time to expand this. “It is not so easy that a language is introduced in the UN process,” Jaishankar said at an event in New Delhi. He also launched the logo and the website of Vishwa Hindi Diwas along with V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Permanent Secretary for the Fijian Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Anjeela Jokhan.
Fiji will be hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference next year from February 15-17, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said at the event.
Speaking at the event, Anjeela Jokhan said that Fiji is privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host the prestigious event and hailed the partnership with India.
He said, “We are honoured to have been nominated by the Indian government as next year’s host for the World Hindi Conference as this platform will provide us with a wonderful opportunity to promote and celebrate Hindi, one of our country’s main languages. Indeed, Fiji feels blessed and privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host this prestigious event. “
Jokhan noted that the partnership with the government of India has grown from strength to strength over the past 52 years and the people of our nations have been deeply enriched through our bilateral interactions and engagements. The official added, “Our two nations have an undeniable bond which can be seen in mutual understanding and respect that we have for each other’s sovereignty, common development, and shared prosperity.”