Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi shakes hands with German ambassador Michael Steiner before the latter met Super 30 students in Patna on Tuesday. (PTI)

Interaction with foreign dignitaries has brightened up the festive days of Super 30 students this year, inspiring them to go through the rigour of studies with global outlook.

On Diwali, the students rubbed shoulders with an official of University of Tokyo. German ambassador to India Michael Steiner was with them on the eve of Chhath.

On his maiden visit to the state, Steiner, accompanied by wife Eliese, said he had a wish to visit Super 30 because he had heard and read about it a lot. “It is quite a remarkable place, where students chase their goal with such high spirit under Anand Kumar’s guidance,” he said, sitting among students.

Steiner asked the students what they aspired to be. Then, he told them in today’s increasingly globalised world, they should not think about Bihar and India only, rather the whole world should be on their mind.

“India has huge demographic dividend. Compared to Germany, it has 20 per cent more youth power and that is a huge advantage. But India needs to channelise this power well. The present Indian government is growth-oriented and welcomes investments. Once that starts, jobs will flow,” he said.

He said the present era required smart production. “Now, products communicate. If they are good, they excel in the market, as communication reaches far and wide,” he said, exhorting students to have a global perspective to excel in the globalised world.

Steiner asked Anand how he ran Super 30 and how he groomed students.

Amardeep Kumar, a Super 30 student, said: “It was a great moment to meet Steiner who spoke about how the world was changing and inspired us to follow that.”

Last week, the students lit diyas and burst crackers with University of Tokyo official Yashino Harisho to celebrate Diwali.