Dear People of India and Friends of India, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Namaste!

I am pleased to convey my warmest congratulations on the 70th Independence Day of the Republic of India.

Tonight, you celebrate India through music and song.  But we are also celebrating India’s strong partnership with the United Nations. 

India is a founding member of the UN – joining even before independence, affirming the people of India to the Organization and our Charter.

We thank India for serving as one of the top contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. And we take inspiration every day from many other Indian contributions – from the non-violent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi – to the harmony and unity represented by the International Day of Yoga.

We look forward to further strengthening those ties in every dimension of our work – from peace to sustainable development to human rights.

Once again, my warmest wishes – and enjoy the evening.

Aap sab ko mubarak ho.