ID :
139668
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 14:05
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http://m.oananews.org//node/139668
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India seeks peaceful, tranquil int'l environment: PM
New Delhi, Aug 28, IRNA – India sought a peaceful and tranquil international environment as well as very good relations with all countries, especially with neighbors, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday in New Delhi.
“Seeking better ties with regional countries, India was engaging its neighbours without looking for reciprocal actions”, said Singh inaugurating the third conference of Heads of Missions here.
He said that India, by and large, has good relations with her neighbours. We were engaging them without looking at reciprocity, in our own enlightened interest.
Referring to the foreign policy, Prime Minister said that foreign policy had a very important role in securing India's energy needs.
Foreign policy should also be oriented towards East and South East Asia which were poised for a sustained growth rate in the 21st century, he added.
Singh said that Indian diplomats were facilitating the creation of an international environment that was conducive to India's progress, development and attainment of its external goals.
Outlining his vision of India, the Prime Minister said that the foremost national goal was to remove poverty and accelerate the pace of economic development.
The Prime Minister noted that India was among the fastest growing economies in the world, which despite the global meltdown in 2008-09, had returned to a growth path of 8.5 percent.
He said energy availability was critical to attaining a 9-10 percent growth rate, as one per cent growth needed 0.8 per cent increase in energy availability.
Highlighting the increasingly inter-dependent global environment, he said India needed an open trading system and wanted to emerge as a major trading nation in the world.
'G-20 had become a key forum for discussing and shaping international economic and financial policies. Foreign policy had also to pay more attention to functioning of G20,' the Prime Minister said.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna commended Indian diplomats for functioning abroad in alien, often difficult and sometimes harsh and adverse conditions, in volatile and even violent zones, with professionalism and commitment.
‘Security’ represents a vital cluster of our priority. Our interests lie in a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood. We believe that dialog can address all outstanding issues, and have seen from 2004-’07 the potential of such a process with Pakistan, said Krishna.
Given the complexities of our relationship with Pakistan, he said that we have advocated a step-by-step, graduated approach. We have conveyed to Pakistan that credible and effective action by Pakistan on our terrorism-related concerns, including the investigations and trial in Mumbai terror attack, would be the most important confidence building measure.
He pointed out that in the context of our pursuit of prosperity and cooperation in the neighbourhood, I cannot overemphasise that India’s commitment to discharging its responsibilities in SAARC in an asymmetrical and non-reciprocal manner has revitalized SAARC in recent years.
Foreign Secretary Ms Nirupama Rao, Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, MOS for External Affairs, Ms Preneet Kaur and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon also addressed the 119 Indian High Commissioners and Ambassadors from across the world.
The Heads of Missions will call on the President and the Vice President of India./end
“Seeking better ties with regional countries, India was engaging its neighbours without looking for reciprocal actions”, said Singh inaugurating the third conference of Heads of Missions here.
He said that India, by and large, has good relations with her neighbours. We were engaging them without looking at reciprocity, in our own enlightened interest.
Referring to the foreign policy, Prime Minister said that foreign policy had a very important role in securing India's energy needs.
Foreign policy should also be oriented towards East and South East Asia which were poised for a sustained growth rate in the 21st century, he added.
Singh said that Indian diplomats were facilitating the creation of an international environment that was conducive to India's progress, development and attainment of its external goals.
Outlining his vision of India, the Prime Minister said that the foremost national goal was to remove poverty and accelerate the pace of economic development.
The Prime Minister noted that India was among the fastest growing economies in the world, which despite the global meltdown in 2008-09, had returned to a growth path of 8.5 percent.
He said energy availability was critical to attaining a 9-10 percent growth rate, as one per cent growth needed 0.8 per cent increase in energy availability.
Highlighting the increasingly inter-dependent global environment, he said India needed an open trading system and wanted to emerge as a major trading nation in the world.
'G-20 had become a key forum for discussing and shaping international economic and financial policies. Foreign policy had also to pay more attention to functioning of G20,' the Prime Minister said.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna commended Indian diplomats for functioning abroad in alien, often difficult and sometimes harsh and adverse conditions, in volatile and even violent zones, with professionalism and commitment.
‘Security’ represents a vital cluster of our priority. Our interests lie in a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood. We believe that dialog can address all outstanding issues, and have seen from 2004-’07 the potential of such a process with Pakistan, said Krishna.
Given the complexities of our relationship with Pakistan, he said that we have advocated a step-by-step, graduated approach. We have conveyed to Pakistan that credible and effective action by Pakistan on our terrorism-related concerns, including the investigations and trial in Mumbai terror attack, would be the most important confidence building measure.
He pointed out that in the context of our pursuit of prosperity and cooperation in the neighbourhood, I cannot overemphasise that India’s commitment to discharging its responsibilities in SAARC in an asymmetrical and non-reciprocal manner has revitalized SAARC in recent years.
Foreign Secretary Ms Nirupama Rao, Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, MOS for External Affairs, Ms Preneet Kaur and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon also addressed the 119 Indian High Commissioners and Ambassadors from across the world.
The Heads of Missions will call on the President and the Vice President of India./end
