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Terrorism raising its head in South-East Asia: PM
Bangkok, Oct 09: Noting that terrorism was raising its head even in South-East Asia now, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today highlighted the need to eradicate organised crime, piracy, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other such elements from the region.
Bangkok, Oct 09: Noting that terrorism was raising its head even in South-East Asia now, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today highlighted the need to eradicate organised crime, piracy, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other such elements from the region.
Addressing the joint session of Thai Parliament as the first foreign leader, Vajpayee said that the scourge of terror was not limited to a few regions of the world.
As open democratic societies, both India and Thailand were also increasingly at risk from the forces that "exploited the freedoms of our societies to wage war on us," he said.
"The ugly face of terrorism is now seen increasingly even in South-East Asia. It has been with us in India for over two decades," Vajpayee told an appreciative audience.
He noted that being maritime neighbours, both the countries had a common interest in economic development of the neighbourhood as also in the security of the waterways. "We need to eradicate organised crime, piracy, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other such elements from our region,” the Prime Minister said.
"We should join forces to ensure that the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea area become zones of genuine peace and development," Vajpayee said.
Vajpayee, who got a standing ovation as he entered the House, said the relations between India and Thailand went back to antiquity.
"They're based on the firm foundations of a shared heritage. We still share similar cultural traditions, including festivals," the Prime Minister, dressed in a black 'bandgala' suit, said.
He said India's complementary strengths provided a solid foundation for developing cooperative ties. "Our skills in the software industry are well matched by your emerging strengths in the hardware segment of the information technology industry."
"As one of the six countries in the world with indigenously developed end to end space capabilities, we can cooperate with you to utilise space technology or development," Vajpayee noted.
He said India had suggested a twin-city relationship between Phuket in Thailand and Port Blair in India and felt this could promote the idea of cross-regional tourism linkages, which should be promoted in all of Asia.
Vajpayee said that both India and Thailand were grappling with complex matters in the era of globalisation. "We are contending with questions on the right approach to crucial and sometimes painful issues of reform and restructuring," he said adding, "We face the challenge of preserving our cultural identity and environment in an age of rapid development and change." The Prime Minister told the Thai Parliamentarians that Thailand was an important link in India's increasing engagement with its extended neighbourhood in East and South-East Asia. "We are determined to increase our mutually beneficial partnership both bilaterally and multilaterally."
"It is in our common interest to promote regional cooperation through the Asian cooperation dialogue," Vajpayee said.
Vajpayee said that Thailand's support had been crucial in enabling India to widen and deepen its interaction with the nations of the South-East Asia.
Bureau Report
As open democratic societies, both India and Thailand were also increasingly at risk from the forces that "exploited the freedoms of our societies to wage war on us," he said.
"The ugly face of terrorism is now seen increasingly even in South-East Asia. It has been with us in India for over two decades," Vajpayee told an appreciative audience.
He noted that being maritime neighbours, both the countries had a common interest in economic development of the neighbourhood as also in the security of the waterways. "We need to eradicate organised crime, piracy, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other such elements from our region,” the Prime Minister said.
"We should join forces to ensure that the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea area become zones of genuine peace and development," Vajpayee said.
Vajpayee, who got a standing ovation as he entered the House, said the relations between India and Thailand went back to antiquity.
"They're based on the firm foundations of a shared heritage. We still share similar cultural traditions, including festivals," the Prime Minister, dressed in a black 'bandgala' suit, said.
He said India's complementary strengths provided a solid foundation for developing cooperative ties. "Our skills in the software industry are well matched by your emerging strengths in the hardware segment of the information technology industry."
"As one of the six countries in the world with indigenously developed end to end space capabilities, we can cooperate with you to utilise space technology or development," Vajpayee noted.
He said India had suggested a twin-city relationship between Phuket in Thailand and Port Blair in India and felt this could promote the idea of cross-regional tourism linkages, which should be promoted in all of Asia.
Vajpayee said that both India and Thailand were grappling with complex matters in the era of globalisation. "We are contending with questions on the right approach to crucial and sometimes painful issues of reform and restructuring," he said adding, "We face the challenge of preserving our cultural identity and environment in an age of rapid development and change." The Prime Minister told the Thai Parliamentarians that Thailand was an important link in India's increasing engagement with its extended neighbourhood in East and South-East Asia. "We are determined to increase our mutually beneficial partnership both bilaterally and multilaterally."
"It is in our common interest to promote regional cooperation through the Asian cooperation dialogue," Vajpayee said.
Vajpayee said that Thailand's support had been crucial in enabling India to widen and deepen its interaction with the nations of the South-East Asia.
Bureau Report