Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spelt out India's foreign policy in relation to Asian neighbours during the inaugural address of India's annual international geo-political conference Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
The prime minister's inaugural address highlighted almost all issues he has been working on since he took over the leadership of the country in 2014, starting from his invitation to SAARC nations for his oath ceremony. However, key highlights of his speech were what he said on Pakistan and China, and their economic corridor. Here are the highlights: (read full coverage here)
Watch PM Modi's full speech here:
PM Modi on India at Raisina Dialogue 2017
# Our economic and political rise has great significance.
# My government has a path of international engagement. Shaping relationship is our priority.
# Realism Coexistence cooperation partnership. This finds place in our national interest.
# Indian transformation can't be separated with foreign policy.
# Our economic growth, markets, all deeply impacted by the world.
# Our desire to change our country has invisible link with the world.
# In India, transformational goal is equally result of human progress.
PM Modi on World Order at Raisina Dialogue 2017
# Multipolarity of world and multipolar Asia is dominant and we welcome it. It accepts the voices of many.
# Focus of conference is multipolarism and multipolarity.
# Changing world is not new situation. The crucial question is friends of nations are shifting rapidly.
# At multiple levels world is going through profound changes.
# We believe respecting freedom of navigation and respecting international norm is necessary.
PM Modi on South Asian nations at Raisina Dialogue 2017
# People of South Asia joined by blood and shared history.
# Interconnected neighbourhood is my dream
# In Afghanistan, despite distance and difficulty we have built institutions. (Read Hamid Karzai's remark on PM Modi's speech)
# With Bangladesh, we achieved "political understanding".
# With Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan we developed infra source of progress.
# India alone can't walk the path of peace.
# Pakistan must walk away from terror of it wants to have dialogue with India.
# Our vision is peaceful of entire South Asia. # With this vision I walked to Lahore.
# For me sabka sat sabka vikas is not only vision of India but needs of world
# The people of South Asia is joint by history geography and shared culture.
PM on China at Raisina Dialogue 2017
# Engagement with China is important.
# Sort to tap areas of commercial partnership.
# There are opportunities for development of relations between India and China.
# It's nót unnatural for 2 large neighbouring powers to have differences.
# Both need to show sensitivity and respect for core concerns and interest.
# This century belongs to Asia.
# Rising ambitions visible stress points.
#Security architecture must be open and transparent and should be rooted in international norms and sovereignty.
PM on Talks with Trump at Raisina Dialogue 2017
# We agreed to keep building on gains on strategic partnership.