Rane to inaugurate 2-day seminar on revival of silk route tomorrow

Panaji, Feb 8 (UNI) Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane will inaugurate a two-day international seminar on 'Reviving the Silk Route: New Initiatives and Engagements for the 21st Century' at the International Centre, Goa (ICG) tomorrow.

The prime objective of the seminar, according to the organisers here today, was to further encourage efforts to revive the Silk Route by bringing experts in the area of international relations and trade together.

The Seminar will be attended by scholars from India, UK, Kyrgyzistan and Holland to deliberate on themes such as the 'Silk Route Countries: The Past Inspiring the Future', 'Sovereign States in Central Asia', 'The Contemporary Economic Scenario', and 'Reviving the Silk Route: Promoting Cooperation in the Age of Globalisation'.

It is the oldest and probably most well known trading route in the world and has a history stretching back several thousand years.

The 10,000 km route covered India, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and China. Although the direction and scale of contact varied over the centuries, it has always played a role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, spanning a flow of cultures, crafts, ideas, technologies, and beliefs.

It is being organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in association with the ICG.

One of the best known travel writers of England, Colin Thubron will deliver the key note address at the NIO Auditorium in the evening.

Mr Thubron had written extensively on China and Russia and his recent release was the book 'Shadow of the Silk Road'. In New Year's Honours List, he has been awarded the 'Commander of the British Empire (CBE)' by the Queen of England.

He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature since 1969 and a regular contributor and reviewer for magazines and newspapers including 'The Times' and 'The Spectator'.

UNI