ID :
125615
Wed, 06/02/2010 - 13:57
Auther :

UPA-FOREIGN 2 (REOPENS TAR 89)

"In foreign policy our core objectives is to secure for
India an external environment that is conducive to our
long-term economic development and to peace and stability in
our region," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said while
presenting the report.
The report also dwelt on India's relations and assistance
provided to neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Referring to India's development partnership with
Afghanistan, which has earned tremendous goodwill of Afghans
cutting across ethnic and regional lines, it said "Despite
attacks by extremist forces, India's commitment to assisting
the people and Government of Afghanistan as they build a
democratic, pluralistic and peaceful country remains
undiluted."
While in Sri Lanka, India has been assisting in the
rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons in its
northern part, in Nepal, India was investing over Rs 1600
crore to construct roads in Terai area, establish two
integrated check posts and build two cross-border railway
links for better connectivity.
India has provided a Line of Credit of 1 billion USD to
Bangladesh to support infrastructure projects, including in
the areas of railway infrastructure, supply of locomotives,
coaches, buses and dredging, the report said.
It also highlighted India's relations with other
countries including the US, the EU, Russia, Japan and China.
In pursuance of 'Look East' policy, India continued to
improve and consolidate its political, economic and cultural
interaction with countries in the South East Asia and the
Pacific, both in the bilateral and the multilateral context,
it said.
Progress was made towards implementation of the India-US
Civil Nuclear Agreement and several cooperation pacts in
diverse areas such as energy, climate change, agriculture,
education, women's empowerment have deepened the relationship,
the report said.
The strategic partnership with Russia was further
strengthened with the conclusion of several agreements to
intensify cooperation in the defence, space, energy and
science sectors.
A forward-looking framework agreement on nuclear energy
cooperation, envisaging joint collaboration in S&T, setting up
of nuclear power plants and indigenisation of reactor
component manufacturing in India, was also concluded
with Russia. MORE PTI

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