President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid an official visit to India, and spoke as follows: "Within the context of Turkish Language and Literature Undergraduate Program initiated by collaboration of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, lecturers from Turkey give Turkish Language and Literature courses to Indian students at undergraduate level."

President Erdoğan gave a speech at the ceremony held at the Jamia Millia Islamic University, organized to award the Turkish president with an honorary PhD title.

Marking that Jamia Millia Islamic University was founded to educate young minds, Erdoğan said, "I am pleased to be awarded with the honorary PhD title by such a well-established, eminent and reputable educational institution. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude for your kindness. I personally receive this title but on behalf of my nation.”

Pointing out that the relations between India and Turkey have a deep-rooted history despite the distance between the countries, Erdoğan stressed that the Ottomans in Anatolia greatly contributed in the establishment of the Mugal Empire, which ruled in the region for 350 years.

President Erdoğan underlined that Taj Mahal was built by students of Mimar Sinan, an architect with hundreds of monuments all across Turkey, and said, "Today, we remember with respect Shah Cihan's fondness of the Ottoman Empire who was the father of Taj Mahal. Ertuğrul Frigate, sent to Japan for a return visit by the most prominent sultan of the late Ottoman period, Abdulhamid Khan, was welcomed with enthusiasm and sincere sympathy in Bombay Port 128 years ago.”

Underlining that it is impossible to forget Indian people's support to Turkey in the War of Independence period, Erdoğan said, “The victory Turkey won in the War of Independence in 1922, was also a source of inspiration for Indian people's own struggle for independence.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed that culture and education are the primary areas of great potential for India and Turkey, and that the Republic of India signing the first cultural cooperation agreement with the Turkish Republic in 1951, was not a coincidence.

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü lecturers give Turkish Language and Literature courses to Indian students

Informing that lecturers from Turkey give Turkish language and literature courses to Indian students at undergraduate level as part of Turkish Language and Literature Undergraduate Program in Jamia Millia Islamic University, initiated by collaboration of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, Erdoğan said 171 Indian students study in universities in Turkey, as 118 of these receive scholarships from Turkey.

Erdoğan stated that they are pleased to see the interest in India in Turkey scholarships increases incrementally, and that this year the number of applications was 589 and they wish for this number to increase.

"Close cooperation is needed more than ever"

Stressing that they consider each young Indian student studying in Turkey as a very important investment for the common future, Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

"Once these students complete their education, they will serve India in the best possible way as qualified human resources. One of our responsibilities is to transfer our shared history to younger generations to ensure our friendship lasts. While institutions such as this distinguished university light the way for the future of Turkey and India with young and dynamic populations, the common history will be survived to determine the future. I believe that we will achieve significant results for the benefit of both countries in a very short period of time with the studies we will conduct on common aspects rather than differences."