By C M Paul for TwoCircles.net
Guwahati: The ‘International Conference on Asian Values and Human Future’ jointly organised by Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) and the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies, Hubei University, China started off with the entire 20 member Chinese delegation being absent.
Organisers said, “Hitches in the timely procurement of travel documents from Indian embassy in China is said to be the cause of their absence.”
“We have been trying our best over the past weeks to get the delegation come over to participate in the conference,” the organisers added.
The ADBU pro-vice chancellor Fr Joseph Nellanatt – through a tweet message – appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring the Chinese delegation. “I have no response yet from Modiji,” Fr Nellanatt said.
Meanwhile, some 60 other delegates representing 20 universities and eight institutions from Bangladesh, India, Israel, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and United Kingdom participated at the colorful inaugural function held at ADBU Azara campus on July 7.
Dignitaries at the inaugural function included Chief Justice (Acting) Guwahati High Court K Sreedhar Rao, Minister of Culture of Assam Bismita Gogoi, Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, and former Archbishop of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil and other eminent citizens.
Highlight of the inaugural session included one hour opening ceremony followed by cultural programme by the Assam government’s Ministry of Culture as well as an exhibition portraying the history of Assam by Assam State Museum.