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Ignoring dev concerns of poorer nations could be disastrous: PM
New Delhi, Nov 29: Ahead of the WTO General Council, India today warned that ignorance of developmental concerns of poorer countries could lead to disastrous consequences of future discussions on the international trading regime.
New Delhi, Nov 29: Ahead of the WTO General Council,
India today warned that ignorance of developmental concerns of
poorer countries could lead to disastrous consequences of
future discussions on the international trading regime.
"We have to recognise that unless the developmental concerns of the poorer countries of the world are taken into account, popular support for economic liberalisation will collapse in the developing countries. This could have disastrous consequences for our future discussions on the international trading regime," Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said at the India-EU business summit here.
Emphasising that right conclusion should be drawn from the outcome of the Cancun WTO Ministerial, Vajpayee said it was important not to upset the carefully-balanced agenda of interests that resulted from hard fought negotiations and compromises at Doha.
Comparing WTO to a chariot pulled by many horses, he said unless each horse pulls at same the pace and in the same direction as others, the chariot will eventually collapse.
"We can move forward successfully only at a pace with which all parties are comfortable," he said adding this has been a cardinal principle that guided the EU in its integration.
"It is the principle that we in India follow in the coalition that I lead and in the measured pace of our economic reforms," Vajpayee said.
Observing that agriculture provided the core livelihood of millions of people from a huge number of developing countries, he said the decision taken at WTO will need to respond to this basic fact while protecting the interests of farmers elsewhere.
Bureau Report
"We have to recognise that unless the developmental concerns of the poorer countries of the world are taken into account, popular support for economic liberalisation will collapse in the developing countries. This could have disastrous consequences for our future discussions on the international trading regime," Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said at the India-EU business summit here.
Emphasising that right conclusion should be drawn from the outcome of the Cancun WTO Ministerial, Vajpayee said it was important not to upset the carefully-balanced agenda of interests that resulted from hard fought negotiations and compromises at Doha.
Comparing WTO to a chariot pulled by many horses, he said unless each horse pulls at same the pace and in the same direction as others, the chariot will eventually collapse.
"We can move forward successfully only at a pace with which all parties are comfortable," he said adding this has been a cardinal principle that guided the EU in its integration.
"It is the principle that we in India follow in the coalition that I lead and in the measured pace of our economic reforms," Vajpayee said.
Observing that agriculture provided the core livelihood of millions of people from a huge number of developing countries, he said the decision taken at WTO will need to respond to this basic fact while protecting the interests of farmers elsewhere.
Bureau Report