PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH AT THE
ASIA SOCIETY
INDIA-US
RELATIONS IN THE EMERGING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
The Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has called upon democracies of the world
to tackle the challenges, which have survived the Cold war and
has emphasised the importance of the unique opportunity to shape
global politics and international relations within a framework
of plurality and equality based on consensus, compassion, coexistence
and co-operation. Addressing a gathering of Asia Society yesterday,
the Prime Minister outlined four elements, which should be adopted
as part of a long-term strategy in the global war against terrorism:
a concert of democracies acting in cohesion, consistency of approach
in demanding from all countries, the same high standards in combating
terrorism, continuity of resolve and clarity of purpose, and to
win the war of ideas to win the war against terror.
Shri Vajpayee
also pointed to the importance of Iraq and Afghanistan as two
immediate test cases in the efforts to build a world order based
on co-operation and partnership.
The Prime Minister
referred to the growing partnership with the United States as
an important element in India’s efforts for a dynamic and co-operative
multipolar world order. Shri Vajpayee also reiterated his government’s
commitment to building the relationship, which enjoyed support
across the political spectrum.
The following
is the text of the Prime Minister’s speech on the occasion:
"It is a
pleasure to be here with Asia Society again. Five years ago, I
addressed you on India-US relations. India was then facing a difficult
international environment; and that included our relations with
USA. Even then, I described India and USA as natural allies. I
would like to return to that theme today, to reflect on the transformation
in India-US relations, and on the global environment in which
this transformation has taken place.
The end of the Cold
War encouraged hopes of a rare era in history, when international
relations would no longer be defined by great power rivalries.
There may be differences on issues and disagreements on approaches,
but conflict and confrontation do not overshadow the relations
among great and emerging powers. There are debates on whether
the international order will be unipolar or multipolar. There
are questions about the balance between national interest and
international responsibility; about national sovereignty and international
obligations. These debates are inevitable, since we are still
in the process of shaping the contours of the post-Cold War era.
Another dominant
theme of our times is the interdependence of nations, accentuated
by technological changes and economic inter-linkages. Globalization
has touched every sphere of our activity.
The end of the Cold
War had kindled hopes of an enduring era of security and stability.
This has not happened. Instead, new political problems and security
challenges have been thrust upon us.
Through all these
uncertainties, we still have a unique opportunity today to shape
global politics and international relations within a framework
of plurality and equality, based on consensus, compassion, coexistence
and cooperation. This cooperative world has to be development-oriented,
to accommodate the interests of all.
To achieve this goal
requires cooperation among democracies of the world to tackle
the challenges, which have survived the Cold War, and those, which
have arisen more recently.
Continued terrorist
attacks around the world remind us that the global war against
terrorism, which commenced after the tragedy of 9/11, is far from
over. Our long-term strategy to combat it should have four broad
elements:
- One, a concert of democracies
acting in cohesion. A threat against one should be seen as a
threat against all.
- Two, Consistency of approach in
demanding from all countries, the same high standards in combating
terrorism.
- Three, continuity of resolve,
and clarity of purpose. We should not be drawn into the grey
zone of conflicting policy objectives, which condone ambiguous
positions on terrorism.
- Four, to win the war against terror,
we have to win the war of ideas. We have to expand the constituency
of democracy by promoting the ideals of freedom, democracy,
rule of law and tolerance, which are our defining strengths.
The post cold war
age has also seen a significant proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and their delivery systems. Today, the threat of their
falling into terrorists’ hands looms large. The existing regimes
for non-proliferation rigorously audit the performance of responsible
states, but do not touch the proliferators. An honest reappraisal
is required.
The structure of
international political, security and economic institutions, established
nearly sixty years ago, needs to be reviewed from the perspective
of today’s realities and future needs. Our international trade
negotiations should place the development agenda at the centre
of attention. We should not let status quo tendencies sabotage
the long-term gains of genuine change.
Iraq and Afghanistan
are two immediate test cases of our efforts to build a world order
based on cooperation and partnership. In both cases, the way we
address these challenges will have far-reaching implications for
our common future.
In Iraq, we have
to develop an international consensus, which accelerates the political,
economic and security transformation in that country. In Afghanistan,
we need to complete the work commenced by the Bonn process, and
help its government to completely wipe out the remnants of Taliban,
to establish full control over the entire country and to progress
as scheduled towards national elections.
The future of Iraq
and Afghanistan is vital for their citizens, but will equally
have far-reaching implications for the region and for the world.
On many of these
global challenges, India and USA share similar perspectives. We
see our growing partnership with the United States of America
as an important element in our efforts for a dynamic and cooperative
multipolar world order. India-USA relations have undergone a major
transformation in recent years. The strength of this relationship
derives from a greater understanding of our basic commonalities.
The end of the Cold War has enabled us to enhance our engagement,
based also on a convergence of many geopolitical perspectives.
In March 2000, President
Clinton and I agreed that India and USA would be partners in peace
in the new century, and share a common responsibility for ensuring
regional and international security.
In November 2001,
President Bush and I affirmed our commitment to transforming our
bilateral relationship. We agreed that we should try to give this
partnership the inherent strength to survive all future political
changes in our democracies.
In India, my government’s
commitment to building this relationship enjoys support across
the political spectrum. In fact, people often remark that progress
is not fast enough! They seek immediate, dramatic results and
media-friendly symbols of friendship. I tell them that one lesson
I have learnt from four decades on the Opposition benches in Parliament
is the virtue of patience! The transformation of our ties takes
place after years of doubt and indifference. We have to guide
it carefully, with a vision which extends beyond our immediate
horizon.
The range and frequency
of the India-US dialogue has increased considerably in recent
times. It covers global and regional matters, as well as long
term and near-term issues. But most significantly, it is the atmosphere
of our dialogue that has changed. We now address each other with
the confidence and candour of friends. This dialogue, based on
respect and equality, is successful precisely because we have
recognized that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between
us. We work together on areas of agreement, and frankly discuss
our differing perceptions, without this affecting our relationship.
This reflects the growing maturity of our friendship.
We have, for the
first time, entered into substantive defence cooperation. Our
Armed Forces have established contact, and there are regular exercises
and exchanges of growing complexity. Our common concerns on terrorism,
transnational crime and cyber crime have led us to establish ties
in these areas as well.
India and USA are
jointly exploring frontier areas of science and technology, including
medicine, environment-friendly energy and advanced materials.
We are working to re-establish ties in civilian space applications
and in civilian nuclear safety. Information technology and the
new knowledge economy are increasingly defining the story of our
bilateral relationship. Our growing partnership in developing
technologies of the future should take our bilateral relations
to a qualitatively new level.
It is not only at
government and official levels that our two countries are deepening
and widening linkages. In educational institutions, scientific
laboratories, offices and homes, and even in cyber space, Indians
and Americans are discovering new identities of interest.
The Indian American
community has played – and will continue to play – an important
role in bringing us together. Through talent, hard work and enterprise,
Indian Americans have risen to become one of the wealthiest minorities
in this country. Their achievements – especially in IT, financial
services, management and medicine – have contributed to America’s
progress. They have also created greater awareness in this country
of the opportunities in the India-US partnership.
The Indian economy
continues to grow. It has doubled in the last ten years, and we
hope to redouble it in less than a decade. We are today the fourth
largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity.
Our external reserves are about US $ 90 billion and are increasing
by a billion dollars every two weeks. Our foreign trade is growing
at double-digit rates. We are rapidly reducing our external debts.
Our inflation rate is low and interest rates are on a declining
curve. There is a strong increase in business confidence in recent
months. Our reserves of food stock stands at over 30 million tonnes.
Starting from scratch a few years ago, Indian software exports
have reached US$ 10 billion per annum.
I have no doubt
that the fundamentals of a rapidly developing India will strengthen
our partnership with the world’s largest economy. Our economic
links will strengthen rapidly as India’s economic growth creates
new opportunities for investment and joint ventures. On both sides,
there is recognition of the strong strategic value of the economic
partnership.
Naturally, the vision
of a new India-US relationship for the 21st century
cannot be realised overnight. We still need to overcome internal
resistance, old habits and traditional perspectives on both sides.
Mindsets have to be changed in some quarters. We have to address
vestiges of our past differences on security and proliferation
issues. We must also ensure that the long term perspective of
the India-US engagement is not diluted by short term exigencies.
In dealing with these
hurdles, our two countries need the wisdom and foresight to recognize
the irrefutable logic of the India-US partnership. We have laid
the foundations of such a relationship. Our governments will sustain
their commitment to it. Political, economic and strategic convergences
will generate their own momentum to accelerate the pace of the
transformation. An India-US relationship of maturity, substance
and strength can have a major impact on the emerging world order
in this century.
Thank you".