By IANS
London : India’s relations with the United States have undergone a transformation in recent years, but it will be wrong to conclude that the country’s foreign policy was not independent, according to India’s Minister for State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.
Sharma, currently on a four-day visit to Britain, told a select gathering at Chatham House, an influential think-tank, that the Agreement on Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation with the US “will constitute an important pillar in our bilateral relations”.
In a speech titled ‘Emerging India and its Engagement with the 21st Century World’, he said: “India-US relations should not be viewed through this narrow prism alone. These relations for the most part of sixty years of diplomatic history have been a story of missed opportunities.
“Both sides recognize the need for further diversification of their cooperation agenda. India-US bilateral relations encompass all fields including agriculture, scientific research and space.
“As we took steps to bring this historic shift in Indo-US relations, there were observations and comments in the media implying that India’s foreign policy was no more independent. This is not only incorrect but was fuelled by lack of information on India’s significant engagement with other powers.
“India has a strategic relationship with all major and emerging powers including the UK, Russia, Germany, Japan, France , Brazil , South Africa and the European Union. In keeping with the spirit of our times, India looks upon its relationship with USA and China and indeed with Russia and Japan as well as other leading power centres in the world as being independent of one another”.
Sharma said that India had negotiated the agreement with the US on civilian nuclear energy cooperation that will end decades of isolation and facilitate India joining the global mainstream. To make that happen, India will reach an agreement with the NSG so that it amends its guidelines to facilitate such cooperation, he said.
“An India-specific safeguard agreement with the IAEA for the civilian nuclear reactors identified under this nuclear cooperation plan is being discussed”, he added.
During his visit, Sharma met several British leaders and ministers, including Ed Miliband, Minister for the Cabinet Office, and Digby Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
During the meeting with Jones, Sharma conveyed the concerns expressed by Nasscom on revisions to UK work permits regulations. Jones offered to coordinate an appropriate response by the British government to address Nasscom’s concerns.
Both leaders discussed the forthcoming visit of a major trade delegation led by Jones to India from Sep 24-28.
Highlighting India’s growing economic strengths at Chatham House, Sharma said that India needed massive investments. He said: “Even as we try to build our economic infrastructure, our energy demand is growing. Huge public investments are being made for infrastructure, highways, ports, airports, and for powers projects.
“Last year alone, the prime minister had announced that our internal resources mobilisation, for one year, for these projects was about 150 billion dollars. By conservative estimates and studies carried out by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the next five years in addition to internal resource generation, India can easily absorb at least 250-350 billion dollars of FDI for infrastructure projects alone.
“A land of limitless opportunities India beckons entrepreneurs and investors. I can say with confidence that all those who chose India for investments have had no regrets. Not only are their investments secure, they have yielded rich dividends. India is a democracy which is rule based and rule governed. We have the legislation and institutions in place to protect and promote investments”.