Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lavished generous praiseon the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US and Britain, calling them a "bridge" between their adopted land and India and said the country took "pride in their achievements".
Ahead of his five-day trip to New York, where he will meet with US President George W. Bush and address the UN General Assembly among many other engagements, he said the large Indian community in the US was "second to none" and its creativity, valuable contribution and resources would help accelerate the pace of development in India.
Looking at the huge Indian diaspora in Britain and the US to promote a more vibrant image of the country overseas, Singh spoke of how the community has become a valuable resource for any Indian government in reaching out to these countries, as the Times of London said in the course of an interview with him published here Monday.
The Joint Declaration, to be issued Monday after talks between Singh and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaks of 1.5 million people of Indian origin in Britain who are "at the heart of our relationship".
"Their cultural values contribute significantly towards making Britain the vibrant, dynamic society that it is toady. They are a vital bond between our two communities," it said.
"Their cultural values contribute significantly towards making Britain the vibrant, dynamic society that it is toady. They are a vital bond between our two communities," it said.