NEW DELHI: Underlining the importance of regional fora for resolution of disputes among nations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said mutual consultation, respect for international law and peaceful dialogue were indispensable for peace, security and prosperity of all countries.
The Prime Minister, who reached Jakarta last evening, in an interview with an Indonesian newspaper, KOMPAS, said there is enough space for cooperative efforts by all to meet their needs and aspirations and cooperation, consultation, respect for international law and resolution of differences through peaceful dialogue were essential.
Regional fora, he stressed, could play a useful role in this process.
“We, therefore, see immense value in East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ADMM+ and other cooperative mechanisms in the region…The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is also a major initiative with great promise for our region,” Dr Singh said in response to a question on China’s increasing dominance in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The query related to India’s role in Asia Pacific and how could the region become a strong alliance amid disputes, border and other issues between Japan and China and India and China.
Describing India-China as ‘civilisational neighbours,’
Dr Singh said economic cooperation constituted an essential component of bilateral relations and the growth potential of the two economies could provide the engine
for an increase in tie-ups and contribute to prosperity in Asia and beyond.
Both countries, he said, had differences but had steadily built
a mature and mutually beneficial relationship and maintained peace and tranquility on the borders.
On India’s role in the ASEAN community, he said, New Delhi’s engagement with the grouping remained the cornerstone of its ‘ Look East’ Policy.
India firmly believed, Dr Singh said, that ASEAN centrality was important for the evolution of a cooperative, rule-based open and inclusive regional architecture.
India also valued Indonesia’s leadership role in ASEAN and ASEAN-centric processes and had elevated bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership during the Commemorative Summit in New Delhi in December last year.
He said India keenly followed evolution of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and remained committed to extending all possible assistance.
The Prime Minister said India’s focus had been on capacity building and connectivity and had established several Entrepreneurship Development Centers (EDCs), Centers for English Language Training (CELTs), IT Centers and Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).
India is also actively engaged in connectivity initiatives–both physical and institutional–to bring India and the ASEAN closer, including through initiative to build the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and support to the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity.
Asked how could trade and investment ties between India and Indonesia be improved in the context of global economic downturn, he said the trend in bilateral trade was positive, although it saw a minor dip in 2012-13 because of the global financial situation and now stood at 20 billion US Dollars.
He, however, expressed confidence of achieving the bilateral trade target of 25 billion dollars by 2015 and said the potential was much higher.
The Prime Minister called for diversifying trade basket, resolving impediments to trade and investment and encouraging higher flow of investments in both directions with Indonesia.
A bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) would open up the potential on both sides and provide strong impetus to growth.
He said the early signing of ASEAN-India Services and Investment Agreements, negotiations on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and emergence of an ASEAN Economic Community by end-2015 would also have a positive effect on trade and investment relations with Indonesia.
Indian imports from Indonesia had largely been from extractive industries, which should be diversified, he said.
India could be a significant source for a broad range of goods, including agro-products, automobile components, engineering goods, IT, pharmaceuticals, meat and meat products and biotechnology products.
Indian companies, Dr Singh said, viewed Indonesia as an attractive investment destination and already had significant presence in infrastructure, power, textiles, steel, automotive, mining, banking and FMCG manufacturing. In this context, he cited the role of Tata, Birla, Reliance, SBI and many other big Indian economic players.
In comparison, Jakarta’s investment in India was relatively limited, he said and invited Indonesian companies to look at the opportunities India offered in the infrastructure, logistics, hospitality, and services sectors.
He said both sides had prepared a number of MoUs to be concluded and some were between Ministries and agencies and others between educational and training institutions.
These would reflect the multi-dimensional character of the bilateral relationship, the Prime Minister said adding that India regarded Indonesia as one of its most important partners in the neighbourhood and a key constituent of the ‘Look East Policy.’
(AGENCIES)
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