Thu Nov 21 20:09:30 UTC 2024: ## Modi Calls for Universal Cooperation, Highlights India’s Role as Global Responder
**Georgetown, Guyana:** Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a special session of the Guyanese Parliament Thursday, issued a strong call for global cooperation, emphasizing that conflict is not the answer to the world’s challenges. His address came a day after he received Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence.
Modi highlighted India’s consistent humanitarian aid to nations in crisis, citing examples such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, Türkiye, and Syria, emphasizing India’s role as a first responder to earthquakes and other disasters. He underscored India’s commitment to non-expansionism and advocated for “space and sea” to be arenas of universal cooperation, not conflict.
“Humanity first guides India’s decision-making,” Modi stated, adding that India acts as a “Vishwa Bandhu” (friend of the world) in the spirit of “democracy first, humanity first.” He further emphasized the shared history of struggle and slavery between India and Guyana, highlighting their shared commitment to democracy. Modi also stressed India’s view of island nations as “large ocean countries,” not simply small states. The visit included the signing of key pacts to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
First Piper 