Academic collaboration can be a potential bridge for strengthening relations between two countries, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said here on Thursday.Speaking at a two-day seminar organised by the Jindal Global University and the Tel Aviv University of Israel, Tharoor talked of the deep historical relationship between the two countries."Tharoor, a Member of Parliament and former External Affairs Minister, pointed out that academic institutions have immense power of strengthening bonds between the two countries," a statement issued by the Jindal Global University said."The relationship between the two countries should not be seen just in terms of counter terrorism and intelligence sharing. It needs to have public involvement and a much larger manifestation.
Tourism and trade between the two countries should be encouraged and incentivised. Academic exchange and collaborations should be strengthened," it read.The 'dialogue' between the two universities was an initiative of the Israel Studies Center of Jindal University, where both institutions deliberated on the political and cultural specificities of the two nations to explore a wider collaboration in other fields as well."India and Israel share similarities in values and challenges. Both have to deal with the fact that they are multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious, and make this a strong basis for collaboration in academics," Raanan Rein, Elias Sourasky Professor of Latin American and Spanish History, Tel Aviv University, said addressing the seminar.