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?S-E Asian diplomacy not aimed at China?
The Statesman (New Delhi)
November 9, 2000
KEITH FLORY, STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
HANOI, Nov. 8. India?s current diplomatic initiatives in South-east
Asia are not directed against anybody and the Ganga-Mekong linkage
endeavour to be launched later this year is not an attempt to counter
China?s influence in the region, the external affairs minister, Mr
Jaswant Singh, asserted here today.
It would be misleading to rush conclusions because the Yunan province
was not included in the forth-coming meeting in Vientiane, he told a
press conference after the conclusion of the 10th meeting of the
Indo-Vietnamese Joint Commission.
The grouping of India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam is ?an
organization not directed against anyone, replacing anyone; it is not a
formal grouping?. The countries are bound by ties of history and
culture and are now trying to foster cooperation in education, tourism,
culture, science and technology and the development of infrastructure,
the minister emphasized.
India?s participating in the Mekong basin cooperative exercise is only
in support of an existing arrangement and ?challenges nobody; it is an
affirmation of geographical and cultural links?.
Asked about India adopting a ?look east policy?, he said the term had
been used by Mr PV Narasimha Rao and said it was inevitable that India
looked in that direction. Every
Morning, thousands of Indians looked that way during worship.
In taking such a categorical position, Mr Jaswant Singh was addressing a
political issue of regional significance for there is indeed much
sensitivity here to any suggestion of India desiring to use its
relations with these countries as a counter-weight to China. None of
these nations wish to be drawn into that kind of an equation.
The minister expressed much satisfaction at his meetings with the
Vietnamese leadership and noted that President Tran Duc Long had spoken
of his relations with India as being of ?strategic importance?. Both
countries attached a great deal of importance on imparting a ?new
dynamic? to the relations.
The economic content of that relationship has to be given further
impetus, particularly in correcting the trade imbalance that is
currently heavily weighed in India?s favour. Mr Singh said that the
joint commission had been directed to work towards that. Mining,
financial services, information technology and the hydrocarbons sector
had been identified for action.
Pointing out that his visit to Vietnam came at an appropriate
point?between the Vietnamesse President?s visit to India and Mr Atal
Behari Vajpayee?s visit here early next year?Mr. Singh spoke of the
?firm and assured quality? of bilateral relations.
He was highly appreciative of Vietnam having reiterated its support to
India?s bid for a permanent place in a reformed UN Security Council.
The two countries would also be working ?more cooperatively? in
international for a, he said.
The meeting of the joint commission has been ?highly successful? and he
stressed that he was not speaking in terms of the atmosphere alone
because firm decisions had been taken in various economic spheres for
?deepening the scope of bilateral relations mindful of the challenges of
the new century?.
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<blockquote><b><font size=+2>?S-E Asian diplomacy not aimed at China?</font></b></blockquote>
<p><br><b>The Statesman (New Delhi)</b>
<br><b>November 9, 2000</b>
<p><b><u><font size=-1>KEITH FLORY, STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE</font></u></b>
<p><b>HANOI, Nov. 8. </b> India?s current diplomatic initiatives in
South-east Asia are not directed against anybody and the Ganga-Mekong linkage
endeavour to be launched later this year is not an attempt to counter China?s
influence in the region, the external affairs minister, Mr Jaswant Singh,
asserted here today.
<p>It would be misleading to rush conclusions because the Yunan province
was not included in the forth-coming meeting in Vientiane, he told a press
conference after the conclusion of the 10th meeting of the Indo-Vietnamese
Joint Commission.
<p>The grouping of India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam is ?an organization
not directed against anyone, replacing anyone; it is not a formal grouping?.
The countries are bound by ties of history and culture and are now trying
to foster cooperation in education, tourism, culture, science and technology
and the development of infrastructure, the minister emphasized.
<p>India?s participating in the Mekong basin cooperative exercise is only
in support of an existing arrangement and ?challenges nobody; it is an
affirmation of geographical and cultural links?.
<p>Asked about India adopting a ?look east policy?, he said the term had
been used by Mr PV Narasimha Rao and said it was inevitable that India
looked in that direction. Every
<br>Morning, thousands of Indians looked that way during worship.
<p>In taking such a categorical position, Mr Jaswant Singh was addressing
a political issue of regional significance for there is indeed much sensitivity
here to any suggestion of India desiring to use its relations with these
countries as a counter-weight to China. None of these nations wish
to be drawn into that kind of an equation.
<p>The minister expressed much satisfaction at his meetings with the Vietnamese
leadership and noted that President Tran Duc Long had spoken of his relations
with India as being of ?strategic importance?. Both countries
attached a great deal of importance on imparting a ?new dynamic? to the
relations.
<p>The economic content of that relationship has to be given further impetus,
particularly in correcting the trade imbalance that is currently heavily
weighed in India?s favour. Mr Singh said that the joint commission
had been directed to work towards that. Mining, financial services,
information technology and the hydrocarbons sector had been identified
for action.
<p>Pointing out that his visit to Vietnam came at an appropriate point?between
the Vietnamesse President?s visit to India and Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee?s
visit here early next year?Mr. Singh spoke of the ?firm and assured quality?
of bilateral relations.
<p>He was highly appreciative of Vietnam having reiterated its support
to India?s bid for a permanent place in a reformed UN Security Council.
The two countries would also be working ?more cooperatively? in international
for a, he said.
<p>The meeting of the joint commission has been ?highly successful? and
he stressed that he was not speaking in terms of the atmosphere alone because
firm decisions had been taken in various economic spheres for ?deepening
the scope of bilateral relations mindful of the challenges of the new century?.
<br> </html>
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