Pratibha Patil has called for greater harmony of views expressed by India and Mexico at the international fora. “We have had cooperation in the past in international fora, be it the UN or the WTO, and on issues like climate change, Doha trade negotiations and the fight against terrorism. It is critical that our two countries continue to display even greater harmony in the coming days,” said Patil during a banquet hosted by Mexican President Felipe Calderon at Mexican Presidential Palace Los Pinos. “Our voices will no doubt be heard with respect when we speak in harmony.”Mexico has been opposed to the expansion of permanent membership to the UN Security Council — something which India has been strongly advocating for.Patil also made a pitch for Mexican investment in India and called for drawing a future road map for commercial relationship between the two countries. “During your visit last year, we had the first meeting of the high-level group on trade, investment and economic cooperation and I am glad to note that the group will meet again in June this year. It is important that they draw up a road map for the rapid development of our trade and economic relations,” said Patil, recalling how both the sides had agreed to elevate their relationship to the status of “privileged partnership” when Calderon had visited India last year.“There are tremendous opportunities in the areas of infrastructure and tourism, just to mention two of the potential areas that can be exploited by Mexican entrepreneurs,” she added.Raising a toast to the friendship between India and Mexico, she also called for greater cultural exchanges between both the sides.Earlier in the day, Patil and Calderon agreed to cooperate in the field of agriculture, especially for launching a second Green Revolution in view of the grave food shortage the world over. India had used “sonora”, a wheat variety developed by Mexican scientists for its first Green Revolution in 1960s.Addressing a gathering of the Indian community in Mexico City, the President told the diaspora to play a crucial role in developing and diversifying bilateral relations between the two countries.Underlining the importance of people-to-people contacts in promoting bilateral relations, she said, “Films and television also have an important part to play in this (people-to- people contacts) regard. Both our countries have vibrant film and television industry. Greater interaction between them should be encouraged.”
