May I now turn to some of the specific issues that have been raised in the course of the debate? A major priority of this country's foreign policy, as indeed the foreign policy of all the countries, is its relationship with its neighboring countries. We are very keen, and have always been very keen for having best relations with our neighbours. We have many common aspects. We are one people in many aspects because we have cultural ties and we have economic linkages. And where we do not have economic linkages, we have good reasons to have economic linkages. In many respects, therefore, the fraternal spirit that we advocate for the international community as a whole that fraternal spirit must prevail even more vehemently in our own neighbourhoods, in this region, in this sub-continent. We look at the relationship with our neighbors from two places one is the multi-lateral plane and that is basically through the regional arrangement of the source and the other is, of course, the bilateral plane. As far as source is concerned, I would like to submit here that the recent source summit held in Colombo last December, we hope, will impart economic content to trowing cooperation amongst the south Asian countries within the source framework. With these developments, it is expected that source will be more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people of South Asia. As many as five treaties and agreements were signed between the two countries for cooperation in a large number of areas such as trae, transit, control of unauthorized trade agriculture, education, science, and technology. A number of decisions were taken for cooperation in the key area of water resources development, thus, the two countries are moving towards a new era of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. In short, I may say that our relations with Nepal are at a splendid high level and perhaps they have never been as good as they are now. We would indeed improve on this spirit of fraternity and cooperation for further benefit of both our countries and people.
