Manmohan calls for a trilateral framework on economic front

“There is a need to allow our key economic and commercial sectors to interact with each other in the trilateral framework… Our vibrant private sectors have to be encouraged to interact more frequently,” Singh said in an interview to Interfax news agency ahead of tomorrow’s Indo-Russian summit in New Delhi.

Energy is a critical sector in which the three countries should build sustainable long-term trilateral cooperation, he said.

Singh said it was a positive phenomenon that all major countries in the Asia-Pacific region were seeking deeper engagement with each other and shared the assessment that a peaceful environment was of overarching importance for all to pursue the most fundamental tasks of national development.

“In effectively addressing challenges, we should avoid divisive policies and actions driven by the outmoded mindset of balance of power and instead strive for a more meaningful and inclusive cooperative framework in the region across a range of issues from security to trade and investment, disaster relief, coordination of development aid, disease and so on,” Singh underscored.

‘Korean N-test highlights dangers’

MOSCOW: Voicing “deep concern” over the recent nuclear test by North Korea, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said it highlighted the dangers of clandestine proliferation. “India is deeply concerned at the nuclear test conducted by North Korea in violation of its international commitments. This development has implications for regional peace and security and highlights the dangers of clandestine proliferation, which has affected India’s security as well,” he said in a interview to Izvestia newspaper published on Wednesday. — PTI