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INDIA NEWS

PUBLISHED BY PRESS & INFORMATION, EMBASSY OF INDIA, WASHINGTON, DC

RMAN

May-June 2000

IN THIS ISSUE

Suo Motu Statement by Minister

of External Affairs on NPT
Review Conference

Information on Drought-hit
Areas and Relief Activities

Statement By External Affairs
Minister in the Parliament on
the Situation in Sri Lanka

Ambassador Naresh Chandra’s
Message on National
Technology Day

Forum on India-U.S. dialogue
on Financial Economic
Matters Established

A Season for Nonviolence .......5

India does not want an arms
race: External Affairs Minister
Jaswant Singh

Indian Science Delegation in
Washington

News in Brief
New Books on India
Embassy Diary

Recent Policies, Programmes
and Initiatives by the
Government of India

India Press Monitor

State of Maryland Passes
Resolutions Congratulating
India on 50th Anniversary of
the Indian Republic

Trade Events in India

™” President K.R. Narayanan

vaweNsits France and China

President K.R. Narayanan’s visit to France during April
2000 was the first ever-official visit by an Indian presi-
dent to France. President Narayanan’s visit, which
included stops in Paris, Toulouse and Avignon, con-
firmed a “common desire to develop a close partner-
ship” between the two countries.

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French President Jacques Chirac spoke enthusiastically
of his hopes for a “strategic partnership” between
India and France, a partnership for the 21st century,”
in evoking the close ties, both political and cultural,
between the two democracies. “The French have often
dreamed of India,” Chirac stated in a long speech,
which paid homage to the rich cultural heritage of the
Asian nation and to the country’s espousal of the
democratic principles it shares with France. Chirac spoke of being at “the dawn
of a new century which will be in particular that of Asia,” stressing the importance
of mutual cooperation and communication between the two nations.

President K.R. Narayanan

The first stage of the visit took place in Paris, on April 17, where President
Narayanan and his wife were received as guests of honor at a state dinner. The
meeting between the Presidents highlighted the close ties that have been estab-
lished between the two countries in the realms of science and industry, the environ-
ment, and culture, evoking such projects as the “Forum for Franco-Indian Initia-
tive” and the “Franco-Indian Week,” dedicated to the problem of water shortages.

President Chirac stressed the rich cultural heritage of India, which he credited with
the inspiration for France’s own artistic tradition: “Few countries have more
greatly inspired our writers, our philosophers, our artists.”

But the talks focused mainly on international relations. President Chirac declared
that the international equilibrium has need of a strong relationship between India
and the European Union. One of the most important issues on the agenda was
that of nuclear disarmament, a cause to which both heads of state have publicly
committed themselves.

President Chirac emphasized France's desire to see India occupy a prominent
place in the international scene. Both leaders agreed on the importance of enhanc-
ing cooperation in the domain of defense.

President K.R. Narayanan returned June 3, 2000 from a landmark visit to China
aimed at improving ties between the world’s two most populous nations. Vice
President Krishnan Kant, Home Minister L.K. Advani and other cabinet ministers
received Mr. Narayanan and wife on their return from the weeklong trip. The
President during his visit held talks with his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin,
Premier Zhu Rongji, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee chief Li
Ruihuan, and met with Chinese Parliament chairman Li Peng. Narayanan and
Jiang agreed that the two neighboring countries should work for an early and
reasonable resolution to their vexed boundary issue.