Make efforts to counter influence of China in Pacific: Prez
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">"You know nothing happens automatically. We shall have to make efforts," he said when asked about Chinese influence in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and New Zealand.
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">The President was talking to reporters on board the special Air India flight while returning after a six day trip to PNG and New Zealand, his first state visit to the two countries.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">He also said India was ready to work for early conclusion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">"I conveyed India's willingness to work towards an early conclusion of an FTA keeping in mind the need to find a satisfactory resolution of our mutual concerns," the President said.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">"We are not maintaining silence. Ten rounds of discussions have taken place on FTA. Unfortunately the negotiations began in 2010 and we have not been able to finalise it. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There are some problems about some of the agricultural products but I think we have come a long way from the days when our agriculture required total protection because we are the largest producers of the liquid milk. So apart from green revolution, white revolution has also been achieved," he said.
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">The President said the policy followed by the government in the 1960s and 70s or even 80s may not be relevant in 2015-16.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">"I understand government is considering this aspect carefully. Of course when you enter into an FTA, it boosts your bilateral trade substantially," he said and cited an example of Sri Lanka with which India's bilateral trade grew 20 times after signing of FTA.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">He lauded the Narendra Modi government for having organised two summits of Asia Pacific Island countries. "The third summit is being held at PNG and I do hope Indian delegation will consist of high-level representatives. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, a begining has been made and it will naturally be taken to its logical conclusion in course of time," he said. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Mukherjee said he was satisfied with his visit to the two countries.
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">"So far PNG is conerned, not even a politician ever visited PNG. On the other hand, you look at their approach, they have voluntarily extended their support to India's legitimate claim to permanent membership of UNSC," he said.<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333;mso-font-kerning:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">"Therefore, I do feel that this visit was important and I am satisfied with the outcome of this visit....I do feel it is time for us to expand our relationship, both horizontally and vertically in trade, commerce, investment and sharing technical expertise in respective fields," he said.<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p></o:p>
