Great Silk Route being revived

NEW DELHI, Aug 6 (UNI): The Great Silk Route, which used to be a major trade link between India and central Asian countries, is being revived again to give boost to the economic ties between the Commonwealth of Independent Countries (CIS) and India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.

"The Silk Route will be made a commercial and trade route and as a vehicle for disseminating and sharing knowledge and technology between the Central Asian region and its neighbouring nations," according to one of the major recommendations at the International Conference on 'Eurasia in the 21th Century-Dialogue of Cultures or Conflict of Civilisations'.

The conference was recently inaugurated by Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev and attended by top functionaries of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey and other countries.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also invited but he could not attend it due to the Parliament session and other preoccupations.

The silk route was closed about a century ago because of major political and military developments in the Central Asian region.

The decision to create a "new silk route project" is aimed at forging not only strong economic and commercial links, but also strengthening bond of brotherhood among people of different faiths including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism so that greater understanding can be achieved among the people of the region.

Since ancient times, in particular during the era of the great Silk Route, cultural values as well as material values and riches have been exchanged between East and West.

Akaev proposed a grand design for a new "Diplomacy of the Silk Road." "This initiative would be be accomplished by concrete steps and modalities aimed at regional integration and providing economic foundations for sustainable development of the region through the promotion of free trade, investment and sharing of technical know how," he added.

The Central Asian countries should further be encouraged to revive and create new international transport-communication routes and corridors through joint infrastructure projects, to develop tourism and to share the know how, using information and communication technology.

The International Conference also vowed to fight against terrorism and emphasised on tackling the root cause of potential conflict by reducing inequality, combating poverty and creating necessary conditions for peace.

The interaction of cultures and communities is an integral feature for social progress and strengthening of socio-cultural pluralism.