Monday, August 15 2005 11:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Indians living abroad, right from America to China, today (Aug 15, 2005) celebrated the 59th Independence Day by participating in flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes.

The national tricolour was unfurled and President A P J Abdul Kalam's message read out at diplomatic missions in several countries.

Cultural programmes by children of NRI's marked the occasion.

At Indian missions in the US where a two million strong Indian American community resides, traditional flag hoisting ceremonies were held and children sang patriotic songs.

In Kuala Lumpur, High Commissioner R L Narain hoisted the tricolour and read out the President's speech. At least 130 people came to take part in the celebrations.

A group of Indian tourists, vacationing in Malaysia, also came to the India House to salute the flag. In neighbouring Bangkok, Ambassador Vivek Katdju read out the speech and an expatriate Indian choir group sang patriotic songs in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Malayalam.

The national flag was also unfurled at Indian missions in Hanoi, Manila, Singapore, Yangon, Vientianne, Phnom Penh and Jakarta.

In Beijing, the Chinese capital, Indians gathered at the Indian Embassy where the Ambassador Nalin Surie hoisted the national flag. This was followed by the singing of national anthem.

Surie read out the President's address to the nation in which he stressed the importance of energy independence for the world's second most populous nation.

The Independence Day was also marked in Shanghai, China's commercial hub in a grand way. Consul General of India in Shanghai, Sujan Chinoy held a big reception for 275 people at which senior Government officials, including the Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Zhou Taitong attended.

The reception was also attended by senior representatives from Zhejiang province and Jiangsu province, both neighbours of Shanghai. Senior leaders from the political circle and academics and businessmen also attended the reception.

The Independence Day was also marked in Hong Kong by the Consulate General of India where a large number of Indians gathered and witnessed the unfurling of the national flag.