Manmohan Singh calls for greater India-SCO cooperation

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today called for greater interaction between India and member countries of the Shangai Coperation Organisation (SCO) even as he highlighted the need for reforming global financial institutions.

"We believe that with the resources available with us, the SCO and India can mutually reinforce each other's efforts towards the economic emancipation of our region. We would be happy to share with our friends in the SCO the experiences we have gained over the years in various sectors of nation-building," the prime minister said in his opening remarks at the SCO summit.

He said increased cooperation would help find innovative means to strengthen people-to-people contacts, exchanges of businesspersons and scholars, and trade, investment and technology flows.

"We should convert this crisis into an opportunity for much greater economic cooperation between the members of the SCO and India. Between us we have a vast market, a large industrial base, a talented human resource base and above all, the political will. We should also work together to reform the institutions of global governance, including financial institutions, to bring them in tune with present and emerging economic realities,'" he said.

"We would welcome closer cooperation in the fields of energy and food security, and infrastructure development," he added.

He also goaded the SCO members to convert the global economic crisis into an opportunity for greater economic cooperation.

He said the issue of stability in the region, especially in Afghanistan, is key to economic development Asia. India, like Russia, is committed to contributing to international efforts for the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan, and promoting stability in that country, he added.

"We can no longer delay giving concrete shape to the concept of sustainable development. The developing world needs access to financial resources and environment friendly technologies, especially in energy, transportation, manufacturing and agriculture. We need technology innovations for reduction of energy use by industry and other sectors. We need massive action for afforestation, drought proofing and flood protection. We need action to protect the glaciers that feed our river systems," he said.

"The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation represents a vast land mass rich in cultural diversity, creativity and resources. India has the privilege of having excellent bilateral relations with each of the members of the organisation. Our relations with them go back in time. They rest on solid civilisational, cultural and economic linkages that have flourished over centuries, he said.

Although India is an observer state, we have many complementarities and have a lot to gain and learn from each other, he said.

He called upon SCO members to create an external environment that is conducive to meeting the aspirations of the people.

"Against this background, the Russian Presidency's initiative to focus on the themes of regional security and sustainable development is most appropriate," he said.