<p>Seoul: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met a delegation led by the Mayor of Gimhae City, a 'Sister City' of<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/search?q=Ayodhya%20"> Ayodhya</a> and said, the connection between the two cities is a testament to 'our shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations.” Gimhae City is about 330 km southeast of the capital Seoul.</p><p>According to a Korean legend, a teenage princess from Ayodhya crossed the ocean in a boat some 2,000 years ago, sailed almost 4,500 kilometres to reach Korea and married King Kim Suro, who founded the Gaya Kingdom in the north Asian country.</p>.Strong alliances do not enhance India's global standing, loose associations favourable, says Jaishankar in South Korea.<p>The princess, Suriratna, then became Queen Heo Hwang-ok. Some 60 lakh people in South Korea, who consider themselves descendants of Suriratna, consider Ayodhya as their maternal home.</p><p>“Delighted to meet Gimhae City Mayor Hong Tae-yong today. The Gimhae- Ayodhya connect is a testament to our shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations. Discussed greater cultural and educational cooperation with Gimhae City,” the EAM posted on X after the meeting along with a photo of the occasion.</p><p>Jaishankar gifted a small replica of the recently inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.</p><p>A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said his visit also “allowed age-old civilisational and cultural ties between the two countries to be cherished.” </p><p>“India shares an ancient bond of kinship with the Korean people, manifested by Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in the RoK,” it said.</p><p>Many members of the Karak clan visit Ayodhya every year to pay tributes at the memorial of Queen Heo Hwang-ok at the Queen Heo Memorial Park, which was set up on the banks of the Sarayu River in Ayodhya in 2001 in a partnership between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Gimhae city.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met South Korea's top leadership as he co-chaired the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul.</p><p>Meanwhile, the MEA statement also said that the EAM received from revered Monk Domyung a book penned by him on Korea's historical and cultural association with ancient India and Buddhism.</p><p>EAM visited a special exhibition showcasing India's rich Buddhist heritage at the prestigious National Museum of Korea. </p>
<p>Seoul: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met a delegation led by the Mayor of Gimhae City, a 'Sister City' of<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/search?q=Ayodhya%20"> Ayodhya</a> and said, the connection between the two cities is a testament to 'our shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations.” Gimhae City is about 330 km southeast of the capital Seoul.</p><p>According to a Korean legend, a teenage princess from Ayodhya crossed the ocean in a boat some 2,000 years ago, sailed almost 4,500 kilometres to reach Korea and married King Kim Suro, who founded the Gaya Kingdom in the north Asian country.</p>.Strong alliances do not enhance India's global standing, loose associations favourable, says Jaishankar in South Korea.<p>The princess, Suriratna, then became Queen Heo Hwang-ok. Some 60 lakh people in South Korea, who consider themselves descendants of Suriratna, consider Ayodhya as their maternal home.</p><p>“Delighted to meet Gimhae City Mayor Hong Tae-yong today. The Gimhae- Ayodhya connect is a testament to our shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations. Discussed greater cultural and educational cooperation with Gimhae City,” the EAM posted on X after the meeting along with a photo of the occasion.</p><p>Jaishankar gifted a small replica of the recently inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.</p><p>A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said his visit also “allowed age-old civilisational and cultural ties between the two countries to be cherished.” </p><p>“India shares an ancient bond of kinship with the Korean people, manifested by Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in the RoK,” it said.</p><p>Many members of the Karak clan visit Ayodhya every year to pay tributes at the memorial of Queen Heo Hwang-ok at the Queen Heo Memorial Park, which was set up on the banks of the Sarayu River in Ayodhya in 2001 in a partnership between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Gimhae city.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met South Korea's top leadership as he co-chaired the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul.</p><p>Meanwhile, the MEA statement also said that the EAM received from revered Monk Domyung a book penned by him on Korea's historical and cultural association with ancient India and Buddhism.</p><p>EAM visited a special exhibition showcasing India's rich Buddhist heritage at the prestigious National Museum of Korea. </p>