New Delhi: As 2011 draws to an end, External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said efforts were made in
the year gone-by to give "more content" and "dynamism" to
India`s relations with its immediate and extended
neighborhood.
The Minister noted that the year began on a "high note"
for the country with its return to the powerful United Nations
Security Council as a non-permanent member after a gap of 19
years.
"We have played an active and constructive role at the
august body befitting the standing of India as a fast,
emerging and major economy and the largest democracy in the
world," he said at a luncheon meeting with journalists.
He also lauded India`s Permanent Representative to the UN
Hardeep Puri, who was present, for his "crucial role" along
with other officials of the Ministry in this regard.
"We have focused strongly in the course of the year on
adding more content and dynamism to our relations with our
immediate and extended neighborhood," Krishna said without
mentioning any country by name.
In this regard, Krishna noted Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh`s bilateral visits to Bangladesh, Kabul and the Maldives
during the course of the year.
"Our efforts are yielding dividends," Krishna said and
added that India`s relations with its key "neighbors to our
west and east continue to acquire greater depth". He said that
he had met all his counterparts from SAARC countries,
including Pakistan this year.
Krishna also expressed "great satisfaction" at the Second
India-Africa Forum Summit at Addis Ababa in May which strongly
underlined mutual commitment to elevate our age-old ties to a
higher level. "We are indeed privileged to be partners in
Africa`s development and progress," he said.
He said India will host the BRICS Summit in the capital
in March, 2012 and the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in
December next year.
PTI
