President Ram Nath Kovind on his three-nation visit unveiled Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Switzerland in the presence of the Mayor and President of Canton Vaud and other dignitaries. He explained how Mahatma Gandhi believed in the oneness of humanity and embraced all cultures and people.  

President Ram Nath Kovind’s address in Switzerland 

Speaking on the occasion, Kovind said, "Mahatma Gandhi's life teaches us many things. He built his first hermitage in India on the banks of River Sabarmati. Today, we have brought him to the banks of Lake Geneva. It is a fitting tribute to a man who loved nature and cared so much for it. His legacy shall inspire us as we work together to tackle climate change and to conserve our ecology. As two democracies with a deep respect for diversity, Mahatma Gandhi shall continue to guide us in our shared journey to bring peace and joy for one and all.”  

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Three-nation visit 

In Switzerland, on Friday, Kovind led the delegation-level talks along with his Swiss counterpart Ueli Maurer and witnessed the signing and exchange of MOUs/agreements between two countries. He arrived in Switzerland on Thursday following the successful completion of his bilateral engagements in Iceland. President Kovind will be leaving for Slovenia, which is the final leg of his visits, on Saturday.

Read: President Kovind in Iceland; counterpart condemns Pulwama Attack

In Iceland, he met his counterpart Iceland’s President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson on Tuesday. The two held wide-ranging bilateral talks and discussed trade, investment, and technology. The office of the President thanked Jóhannesson for his understanding of the issue in a tweet. 

Read: President Ram Nath Kovind addresses Indian Community in Iceland

Read: President Kovind embarks on tri-nation tour to hold bilateral talks