Singapore Foreign minister in Bihar, assures support to Nalanda University

PATNA: Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on Tuesday to discuss the issue on Nalanada International University and the ways to promote tourism in the state.

According to the statement issued by Chief Minister’s office both the leader also deliberated on the issues related to Buddhist circuit tourism and changes taking place in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar also informed the visiting dignitary about the under-construction international museum in Bihar.

Shanmugam assured the Chief Minister of Singapore’s support in building the Nalanda University and further said that the centre of learning would have immense political importance for North-East Asia and other Buddhist countries.

The Singapore minister than paid a visit to ruins of old Nalanda university and the site of the new International university. "I wanted to see it myself because there is a lot of interest in Singapore,'' he told Asia News International (ANI) news agency.

The ancient university existed till 1197 when it was destroyed by marauding invaders.

Singapore Acting High Commissioner in India Jonathan Tow and Indian Ambassador in Singapore Gopinath Pillai were present.