Peace and Friendly Co-operation
In this quest for peace and co-existence, India and the USSR have been working together. We have, therefore, welcomed the determined and bold initiatives for peace and co-operation, which have been launched by the General Secretary Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders. These have culminated in the Helsinki Declaration. While welcoming and appreciating detente, India has underlined the need to stabilise, consolidate and extend this process to other parts of the globe.
India in its own way has been pursuing the goal of establishing a structure of durable peace and friendly co-operation with all her neighbours, notwithstanding difficulties which crop up from time to time. We are determined to overcome these obstacles and we are happy to have the understanding of Soviet Union in the task. The Indo-Soviet Treaty has been a valuable factor in strengthening the forces of peace and stability in our region. It is this deep commitment to peaceful co-existence and the determination to chart out an independent curse of our own that has found its expression in India's policy on-alignment. Over the years, the Non-aligned Movement has made a notable contribution to the cause of world peace. In fact, in the Indo-Soviet Treasury the Soviet Union has explicitly declared its respect for our policy of non-alignment and re-affirmed that it constitutes an important factors in the maintenance of universal peace.
The Soviet Union has shown great foresight in appreciating the progressive role of the Non-aligned Movement in the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism as well as the initiatives for re-structuring international economic relations on the basis of equality and justice. On the question of Indian Ocean also, India and Soviet Union are in full agreement that Indian Ocean should remain a zone of peace. The Soviet Union has reiterated its opposition to foreign military bases in the Indian Ocean. The Soviet Union has restated its position that it does not have any intention to build military bases in the Indian Ocean.
India is a developing country with the elemental problems of mass poverty and socio-economic inequalities. Yet has made many strides in developing advanced technology. It has a large pool of technical talent and considerable industrial base. The Soviet Union itself has had unrivalled experience within her own territories of organising co-operation between areas at different stages of technological development. Both are continental economies. It should, therefore, be possible for us to identify several new and perhaps even exciting modes of co-operation. As regards the new concept of production co-operation, particularly in fields like non-ferrous metallurgy, textiles, electronics and agricultural production, the Soviet and Indian experts are examining a number of specific proposals. We specially appreciate the quantum and scope of economic co-operation with the Soviet Union which has enabled us to establish self-reliance.
Indo-Soviet friendship has withstood the test of time and we in India have always valued the understanding shown by the Soviet Union in our most difficult moments.