India 2018

316 India 2018
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India and the World
THE primary objective of India’s engagement with the world is to ensure a
peaceful, stable global environment and create the most propitious climate
for India’s economic growth and development. The rising profile of the
country in global affairs and its emergence as a fast growing economy in an
otherwise difficult global environment presents a moment of opportunity
that can be utilised to diversify India’s strategic and economic options. In
this context, India’s external engagements have sought to simultaneously
advance and deepen relations with each bilateral or multilateral partner, in
the specific areas where such engagement brings maximum benefit to Indian
interests. The common threads that run through the entire gamut of India’s
international outreach over this period have been put together here.
During 2016-17, the Government continued its pro-active diplomacy
focused on enhancing India's security, strengthening partnerships, and
promoting and facilitating India's economic transformation including through
participation in global forums. There was further consolidation of our relations
with friendly countries both in immediate and extended neighbourhood and
beyond. The emphasis was on expanding India's diplomatic canvas to new
countries and regions, with high-level exchanges with a number of countries
around the world, many of which had not seen such engagements in recent
years. This included partners in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean region.
India also participated in a number of global conferences including the UNGA,
G-20 Summit, BRICS Summit, ASEAN-India Summit, Nuclear Security Summit,
SCO Summit and the East Asia Summit. Our participation may be seen in the
context of hosting the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa in October 2016, continued
outreach efforts of BIMSTEC and hosting the 6th Heart of Asia Conference in
Amritsar in 2016.
Government accorded high priority to relations with countries in our
immediate neighbourhood in South Asia in accordance with its "Neighbourhood
First" policy. Outgoing visits by Rashtrapatiji to Nepal and of the Prime Minister
to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar; and, incoming visits by the Presidents
of Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan and Myanmar; Prime Ministers of
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh; and State Counsellor of Myanmar.
These high level exchanges helped maintain the momentum of deepening our
neighbourhood ties.
With the historic launch of the South Asia Satellite, India demonstrated
its commitment to sharing the benefits of its technological capabilities with
regional partners. As a first responder in emergencies and natural disasters,
India provided proactive humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)