Port Louis (Mauritius): A joint initiative by India and Mauritius to set up a World Hindi Secretariat in Port Louis has gained momentum with the Island state's Parliament passing a legislation in this connection.

The top leadership of the Indian Ocean state, which has strong cultural and historical links with India, while participating in a special debate pledged to make all out efforts to get Hindi accorded its due status as an international language and the recognised language at the United Nations.

Acting Prime Minister Paul Berenger and five of his Cabinet colleagues focussed on various aspects of enrichment of Hindi and the legacy of the common cultural heritage of India and Mauritius.

The World Hindi Secretariat Bill was described by the Education Minister Steven Obeegadoo as "celebration of the special relationship to India".

As per the agreement to set up the secretariat, India will have to design and fund the construction of the Secretariat building in Port Louis. The land has already been provided by the Mauritian government in November 2001 and the foundation stone was laid by Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi.

According to Indian officials, India has to take early steps towards design, funding and construction of the Secretariat building. The Mauritian government will soon be presenting a concept paper in this regard.

Berenger while recalling Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's speech in Hindi when he was the External Affairs Minister at the UN in 1978 reiterated Mauritius's support to India for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

PTI