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Business News/ News / World/  Narendra Modi: Developing countries’ challenges should be kept in mind
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Narendra Modi: Developing countries’ challenges should be kept in mind

Prime Minister emphasized the need for developed countries to understand the challenges of poverty in developing nations

US secretary of state John Kerry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd right) shake hands as they are flanked by US secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker (left) and Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj (right) at the prime minister’s residence in New Delhi on 1 August. Photo: ReutersPremium
US secretary of state John Kerry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd right) shake hands as they are flanked by US secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker (left) and Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj (right) at the prime minister’s residence in New Delhi on 1 August. Photo: Reuters

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underlined the need for developed nations to take into account the challenges of poverty in less developed countries and their governments’ responsibilities in meeting those challenges at international forums.

India’s view was put forward by Modi during a meeting with visiting US secretary of state John Kerry and secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker in New Delhi.

This comes in the wake of the collapse of talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Geneva to find a compromise between India’s position and that of developed countries on food security, which is threatening the fate of the Bali agreement on customs procedures reached in December, as well as the future of the multilateral body.

“Prime Minister emphasized the need for developed countries to understand the challenges of poverty in developing countries and their governments’ responsibilities in addressing them, when discussions take place in international forums," a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Friday’s meeting, and the one on Thursday between Kerry and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, were the first face-to-face contact between officials of the Obama administration and the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India.

Kerry and Pritzker’s visit, and the one next week by US defence secretary Chuck Hagel, are expected to lay the groundwork for the 30 September meeting between US President Barack Obama and Modi in Washington.

Kerry has been voicing optimism about expanding cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies after Modi’s government won a decisive mandate in the April-May national elections. But a series of disputes have put a question mark over hopes for improving ties—among them, India’s blocking of the WTO pact on Thursday.

A PTI report from Washington quoted US trade representative Michael Froman as saying that the US regretted that “India and a handful of (WTO) members" decided not to adhere to their commitment to implement the trade facilitation agreement (TFA) consistent with the Bali agreement.

India has said it would not adopt the protocol on the TFA until a permanent solution is found to the issue of public stockholdings for food security.

“The US is fully committed to the multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO. But the WTO system relies on its members to implement the commitments to which they have agreed," Froman was quoted as saying.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin noted that Modi was on record as having said that the challenges that developing countries face need to be understood by all.

“India is a developing country which has challenges and a responsibility to ensure food supplies to all its people. That is reflected in our stance and that stance takes into account our needs," he said. “If there are other countries who feel otherwise, we understand their perspective because they are coming from a different direction. Our direction is determined by our current circumstances which require us to provide for food security for a significant number of people and that is what the Prime Minister is on record as having said. “

Both Kerry and Pritzker were in India as part of the fifth India-US Strategic Dialogue.

“In an hour-long meeting, the two visiting Secretaries briefed Prime Minister on the India-US Strategic Dialogue; conveyed that (US) President (Barack) Obama attached great priority to relations with India, both for bilateral cooperation and global partnership, and looks forward to a productive and fruitful Summit in September in Washington to set an ambitious new agenda to chart a new course in the relationship," the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Modi on his part noted that there was a “broad convergence of views and interests between the two countries. He outlined his vision for India and for the partnership between the world’s two largest democracies in addressing global challenges, promoting peace and stability in the world and supporting India’s own economic transformation. Prime Minister highlighted the opportunities for partnership in trade, investment, clean energy, innovation, education, skill development, agro-processing, youth empowerment, among others", the statement said.

Regional issues include India’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, India’s commitment to bring South Asia together in a united effort to promote regional economic development, its commitment to continue its support to Afghanistan and the need to confront terrorism on the principles of “zero tolerance" and eschewing a selective approach to terrorism, the statement said.

Akbaruddin’s comments came after an AFP report quoted an unnamed US official as saying that Kerry told Modi that India’s stance on the WTO trade deal had sent the wrong message.

“We note that the prime minister is very focused on his signal of open to business and creating opportunities and therefore the failure of implementing TFA sends a confusing signal and undermines that very message that he (Modi) is seeking to send about India," the official quoted Kerry as saying.

“While we understand India’s food security concerns, the trade facilitation agreement is one that will bring tremendous benefit, particularly to the world’s poor. India’s actions therefore are not in keeping with the prime minister’s vision," the US official said.

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Published: 01 Aug 2014, 12:31 PM IST
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