India favours closer ties with neighbours: Saran

India on Thursday favoured dismantling of existing barriers between countries of South Asia.

Observing that it had accorded highest priority to development of all-round close ties with its neighbours, India on Thursday favoured dismantling of "existing barriers" between countries of South Asia to allow realisation of the region "unshackled from historical divisions".

HT Image

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said New Delhi envisioned realisation of Asian Economic Community as he talked about India's efforts to develop relations with Asian and South East Asian countries, taking advantage of its special geographical location.

Addressing the Shanghai Institute of International Studies in Shanghai, he said the "old mindset of balance of power or conflict of interests" between India and China were "outdated" as the ties between the two big neighbours had acquired a "long-term, global and strategic character".

Saran also spoke about strengthening of India's relations with the US, Russia and the European Union among others, strongly pitched New Delhi's case for permanent seat in expanded UN Security Council and emphasised its commitment to global nuclear non-proliferation.

"We have .. committed ourselves to giving the highest priority to closer political, economic and other ties with our neighbours in South Asia," he said.

"We have a vision of South Asia, unshackled from historical divisions and bound together in collective pursuit of peace and prosperity," he said.