With Bangladesh. which is our very important neighbour to the east, during the last year, we have had some difficulties which are due almost exclusively to its internal compulsions, in which we have no interest. Of course, we do have an interest in its stability and prosperity. On our part we have continued to pursue the goal of solving short-term and long-term problems on the basis of understanding and goodwill.
With the other countries in the south-eastern region as well, we are now fast developing our contacts and creating new avenues of co-operation. With the countries of south-east Asia we have been able to establish friendly, political understanding and economic relations which, I am confident, will be a precursor of what could turn out to be a major regional effort in developmental co-operation. This is equally true of our relations with the ASEAN states, and the heroic states of Indo-China which have just now emerged from the travail of war and destruction.
Co-operation with West Asia
With Iran and Iraq, both powerful new states in our region, now embarking on a large programme of industrial and economic development, we have an ever-growing, mutually useful, technical and industrial co-operation, progressing on parallel lines with-our political friendship. An effective and sustained diplomatic effort has also been set in motion in this whole area to develop further economic contacts with all the countries of the region, including Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia.
It is our conviction that this policy of bilateralism will not merely be of immeasurable value to India and the countries of the region but also provide a model for economic co-operation among developing countries elsewhere in the world.
With Afghanistan we have always had particularly friendly relations. This is the result of our historical cultural ties, a shared opposition to imperialism for a century and common commitment to non-alignment.