Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu Friday announced that he would undertake a nationwide campaign on promoting the rule of law, democracy, sustainable development and peace.

Speaking at a felicitation function organized at Swarna Bharat Trust, Vijayawada, following the conferment of Doctor Honoris Causa upon him by the University for Peace of Costa Rica, the Vice President said that he felt doubly honored to receive the honorary doctorate as the world was commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, who had demonstrated to the world the power of non-violence.

Emphasizing the need for creating greater awareness among the people on the importance of strengthening the rule of law, eliminating corruption, promoting peace and sustainable development and ending regional and social disparities, Naidu declared that he would take up all these issues as also the need for a united action to stamp out terrorism during his visits to other countries.

Expressing his disappointment over the recent decision of China to block the proposal of the United Nations Security Council to declare Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief, Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, Shri Naidu said it underlined the need for expansion of UN Security Council.

The Vice President said that it should be remembered that peace and development are inextricably linked. Peace was the foremost prerequisite for the progress of a nation and the world at large.

Describing the honour conferred upon him by the University for Peace as a global acknowledgement and recognition of the age-old Indian values of peace and harmony embedded in our philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the Vice President said India always believed in peaceful co-existence with all the countries in its neighbourhood.