Delhi Government will learn from Australian experts to bolster the state’s infrastructure: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI:

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the Australian High Commissioner to India, H.E. Shri Barry O’ Farrell, and the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to India H.E. Mrs Peggy Frantzen at the Delhi Secretariat today.

Both the meetings saw the discussion of several key issues between the leaders. They also held dialogue on future collaboration and cooperation. The CM said, “We can take up exchange visits to learn better from each other’s work; we can also ink a twin-city agreement with an Australian city to formalise our exchange of knowledge.

Delhi Government would like to hold dialogue and learn from Australian experts and explore partnerships as well to bolster the state’s infrastructure.

H.E Barry O’ Farrel stated, “We would love to explore ways to strengthen our relationship with Delhi as much as possible.” At the same time, Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia remarked that Delhi and Luxembourg can work towards bolstering tourism by exploring avenues of cooperation and collaboration.

Australian High Commissioner to India, H.E. Shri Barry O’ Farrell, and Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg H.E. Mrs Peggy Frantzen visited the Delhi Secretariat today to call upon Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal.

Both the diplomats held individual meetings with the CM and congratulated him for the historic work done by the Delhi Government in the last seven years. They expressed their special appreciation for Delhi’s education and healthcare revolution. They said that the Delhi Government holds the potential and expertise to transform Delhi into a world-leader with its policies and offered their support towards achieving the same. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia was also present during these meetings.

Australian High Commissioner to India, H.E. Shri Barry O’ Farrell called upon Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat on Thursday morning. The Australian High Commissioner and the Delhi CM discussed opportunities and areas of collaboration at length during their meeting and divulged into the possibility of exchange  of ideas between Delhi and Australian cities.

Kejriwal said, “The Delhi Government and Australian have already collaborated in several key areas. Most remarkably, our cooperation in the fields of water and education has proved to be very beneficial. The Delhi Government would love to see the collaboration in these areas get further strengthened. At the same time, we’d like to also explore new areas of knowledge exchange between the two governments.

A vocational programme is one such field where the Delhi Government is keen to collaborate with Australia in. We can take up exchange visits to learn better from each other’s work. We can also ink a twin-city agreement with an Australian city to formalise our exchange of knowledge. We already have several twin-city agreements with capital cities across the globe and can adopt something similar with Australia too.”

He added, “We aim to achieve the highest global standards in our infrastructure and roadworks in Delhi. We’d like to hold dialogue and learn from Australian experts of this field and explore partnerships as well. If possible, the Delhi Government would also be keen to collaborate in the field of pollution control with Australia too.”

While, H.E. Shri Barry O’ Farrell said, “Such partnerships in the field of knowledge exchange can lead towards great results for both the governments. The Australian Government is actively collaborating with Indian cities. We would love to explore ways to strengthen our relationship with Delhi as much as possible.”

Sharing information about the meeting, the CM Office tweeted, “Australian High Commissioner to India, H.E. Shri Barry O’ Farrell called upon Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat today.  Both Australia and Delhi will work together to further enhance health, education, and infrastructure facilities.”

Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Mrs Peggy Frantzen called upon Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat on Thursday afternoon. The Luxembourg Ambassador and the Delhi CM discussed at length about each other’s urban reforms and developmental work.

Both the leaders exchanged their views of urban health infrastructure as well. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “We took over the Delhi Government seven years back. Back then, the condition of the government hospitals was not up to the mark. Standard healthcare meant private hospitals. Being extremely expensive, the private hospitals are not accessible for the poor. In the last seven years, we have completely transformed the health sector.

The Delhi Government has developed a fourth-tier health infrastructure model. It starts with establishing Mohalla Clinics all over the city. These are like primary health centres that cater to basic treatment and testing.The next tier is Polyclinics.

This is where you get specialised care in various fields. Then come Superspeciality Hospitals and Multispeciality Hospitals. We developed Superspeciality & Multispeciality Hospitals with such high standards that people prefer to go to them instead of private ones. The entire healthcare system offered by our government is free of cost. Be it medicines, treatment, surgery or testing, we don’t charge a single penny.”

He added, “We could further explore areas of our common interest and collaborate with each other. Delhi and Luxembourg can further strengthen their ties by visiting each other’s facilities and exchange knowledge on the same.”

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia pointed out that Luxembourg and Delhi could further tie-up in the field of tourism and art & culture. He said, “Ever since the pandemic hit, the tourism industry across the globe has had to bear the brunt of it. Delhi and Luxembourg can work towards bolstering tourism by exploring avenues of cooperation and collaboration. We can also collaborate in the fields of education and health and share our expertise with each other for the betterment of the society.”

At the same time, the CM Office tweeted, “Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Mrs Peggy Frantzen called upon Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat today. Both Luxembourg and Delhi will work together in cooperation and fellowship for the betterment of the society.”