Dhiraj Nayyar
IndianExpress.com
On board Air India One:
President Pratibha Patil embarked on a nine-day visit to Laos and Cambodia on Thursday, the second such visit by an Indian President after Dr Rajendra Prasad. The President pointed out that India has deep historical and cultural relations with these countries dating back to Emperor Ashoka’s period. “Wat Phu in Laos and Ankor Wat in Cambodia, both World Heritage Sites, stand as grand symbols of the ancient civilisational linkages of India with these countries,” she said.
When queried by the media on China’s growing political and economic influence in the region once known as Indo-China, President Patil eschewed any notion of a zero sum competition for influence between India and China. “There is enough space in the world for both India and China to develop and grow. They can achieve their aspirations simultaneously,” she said.
She did, however, admit that while trade and investment linkages between India and Laos and Cambodia had grown over the years, they remained much below potential. She expressed hope that her visit would help accelerate economic engagement between India and the two countries.
When queried by the media on China’s growing political and economic influence in the region once known as Indo-China, President Patil eschewed any notion of a zero sum competition for influence between India and China. “There is enough space in the world for both India and China to develop and grow. They can achieve their aspirations simultaneously,” she said.
She did, however, admit that while trade and investment linkages between India and Laos and Cambodia had grown over the years, they remained much below potential. She expressed hope that her visit would help accelerate economic engagement between India and the two countries.
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