India and European Union are strategic partners: PM

India and the European Union (EU) are strategic partners in a fast changing and complex world. The success of Europe’s political and economic integration is vital for global stability and prosperity, said Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the joint media interaction at the 12th India-EU Summit in New Delhi on February 10.

Text of the Prime Minister’s statement: “I am delighted to welcome Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso to the first India-European Union Summit in India after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. We have just concluded extremely productive and wide-ranging discussions in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere.

India and the European Union are strategic partners in a fast changing and complex world. The success of Europe’s political and economic integration is vital for global stability and prosperity. The European Union leaders informed me of the steps being taken by Europe to deal with the debt crisis in the Eurozone. I conveyed to them our best wishes for an early and sustained recovery. Given our rapidly growing links with Europe, this is in India’s interest. Europe’s recovery is also essential for ensuring the recovery of the global economy and bringing back market confidence.

Our trade with Europe has reached $107 billion in 2011. Both sides have made considerable progress in the negotiations on the Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement. There are complex issues involved, but we have both agreed to expedite discussions Continued on page 4

India-ASEAN ties set to deepen

The Delhi Dialogue-IV on the theme “India and ASEAN: Partners for Peace, Progress and Stability” was held on February 13-14, 2012 in New Delhi, India. The event was hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Indian Council for World Affairs and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Institute of South East Asian Studies, Singapore, SAEA Group Research, Singapore and the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia, Jakarta. In its fourth year, Delhi Dialogue is today a premier Track 1.5 forum, facilitating greater interaction between India and ASEAN.

The inaugural session was presided over by External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and a host of ASEAN leaders. The summit discussed issues related to economic integration, nontraditional security challenges, the evolving security architecture in the Asia-Pacific, and building networks of knowledge and science. The Dialogue drew wide participation from India and ASEAN countries.

‘India, Mauritius relations rooted in strong links’

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Ramgoolam held bilateral talks on wide-ranging topics aimed at further deepening the India- Mauritius partnership during the latter’s six-day state visit to India beginning February 7. Calling the discussions between the two leaders “fruitful”, Prime Minister Dr. Singh said that the relations between the two countries were “rooted in strong historical and cultural links”.

Text of the statement by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the joint media interaction with Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam: “It is an honour for me to welcome Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam on a state visit to India. He is a special friend of India and a distinguished member of the Indian diaspora. Prime Minister Dr. Ramgoolam and I have completed very fruitful and wideranging discussions aimed at further expanding and strengthening the India- Mauritius partnership.

Relations between India and Mauritius are rooted in strong historical and cultural links. However, over the years, our relations have transformed into a modern, dynamic, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership that encompasses active cooperation in a wide spectrum of spheres.

We have agreed that the next meeting of the India-Mauritius Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation will be held later this year to identify new measures to promote cooperation in key areas. India has been a long-standing development partner of Mauritius. I was happy to inform the Prime Minister that the Government of India will provide a new economic package to Mauritius consisting of a Line of Credit of $250 million and a grant of $20 million.

establish a hybrid planetarium at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Mauritius. We reviewed the status of implementation of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. Both India and Mauritius want to ensure that there is no misuse of the convention. We are happy that the Joint Working Group on this convention has resumed its work and held a meeting in Port Louis in December 2011. We have directed our officials to continue their work towards finding a mutually acceptable and satisfactory solution to the issues that concern us, at the earliest.

The Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed today in the areas of science & technology and education will enable institutionalised cooperation in human resource development. I have invited Mauritius to make the best use of the opportunities available under the initiatives launched by us as part of the India-Africa Forum Summit process. Diaspora links have provided the foundation for our bilateral relations. The MoU on cooperation in the field of sports and youth affairs will help in strengthening these contacts, particularly amongst the youth. Continued on page 3