Unite civilisations to deal with globalisation, terrorism: PM

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today suggested a "dialogue between nations and a confluence of civilisations" todeal with the challenges of globalisation, terrorism and a possibleclash of civilisations.

"I believe the world community can deal more meaningfully with the challenge of globalisation and the threat of terrorism by enabling a dialogue between nations and a confluence of civilisations," Dr Singh said while inaugurating the Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative conference here.

India must actively engage the world towards this end, he said and pointed out that the"defining feature of the 21st century is not that it will be marked by a clash of civilisations, but that it will be shaped by a confluence of civilisations." The Prime Minister said the world expected India to bring to the"table of global discourse" something more than strategic partnerships and market opportunities, important as both these are and open as we are to engaging the world on both these fronts." "I submit to you that India has something more to offer, that is specially relevant to the ongoing global discourse pertaining to the two great challenges of our time, namely, globalisation and the notion of a clash of civilisations," he said.

Dr Singh said all outstanding disputes with Pakistan could be resolved through negotiations if President Pervez Musharraf fulfilled his commitment to stop terrorists from using his country's territory for anti-India activities.

He said South Asia was a sub-continent of great creativity, but it was not being allowed to grow because of India-Pakistan tensions.

"India wants to solve all issues with Pakistan through negotiations," Dr Singh said and added that General Musharraf had assured his predecessor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that any territory within his country would not be allowed to be used by terrorists against India.

"If this assurance is fulfilled, all outstanding issues can be resolved," the Prime Minister said.

Elaborating on his suggestion for a dialogue between nations and a confluence of civilisations, he said he got this"Idea of India" from the idea of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam." Even if nations clashed with one another, cultures and civilisations could co-exist, heopined.

India's unique contribution to the world has been the notion of the many-sidedness and the constant and continuing discovery of "Truth." "The idea of unity in diversity, drawing on the wisdom of our forefathers who spoke of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakamthat translates as the whole is one family is a powerful yet practical political basis for dealing with these twin challenges of our times," he said.

The Prime Minister said his government would accord"the highest priority" to accelerating the rate of economic growth through a process of economic and social development that"is equitable andjust." "As an open society and an open economy we will have to engage the world at all levels and in all spheres." It was with this understanding India sought a larger role for it in global institutions like the United Nations, he said and added India would like to help strengthen and broad-base multilateralinstitutions.

"India has to be an active trading nation and is therefore committed to strengthening a rule-based, transparent and consensual multilateral trading regime." India's economic engagement of the world must match upto its size and scope."I would like to see closer and wider economic engagement between India and our Asian neighbourhood," he said.

India's business leaders must explore the full potential of the creation of an Asian Economic Community, that would include ASEAN and BITEC, Dr Singh said.

"We would like to see a widening and deepening of our economic relations with China, Japan, the member countries of ASEAN, the Central Asian Republics and our traditional friends in West Asia andAfrica.

"We want a neighbourhood of peace and shared prosperity in which people, goods and services can travel with ease across borders.

South Asia must region its pre-eminence in the global economy as a sub-continent of creativity and enterprise," he said.

Dr Singh said India would like to inject new energy into regional associations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BITEC).

India was committed to working with the international community to make the world a safer place to live in.