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East Asia summit boosts India's civil nuclear case
By Manish Chand, IANS,
Jan 15, 2007 - 11:16:37 AM
Cebu -, Jan 15 - India's quest for global civilian nuclear cooperation brightened Monday as the 16 leaders of ASEAN and its dialogue partners, which also includes China and Japan, signed a landmark declaration on energy security at the second East Asia summit.
The Cebu Declaration on Energy Security was signed by leaders of the East Asia Summit - an evolving regional forum that includes 10 Association of South-East Asian Nations - and six dialogue partners, comprising China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The declaration calls for reducing dependence on oil and fossil fuel in the context of surging global prices and seeks to intensify quest for new and renewable energy resources and technologies with the focus on civil nuclear power and bio-fuels.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also made an eloquent case for closer regional synergy in promoting alternative sources of energy like civil nuclear power.
The US passed landmark legislation last year allowing civil nuclear cooperation with India. As India and the US negotiate a bilateral agreement to define terms of civil nuclear commerce between them, New Delhi is focusing its diplomatic energies on winning support of the powerful Nuclear Suppliers Group of which China and Japan are key members.
'We are hopeful of winning support of China and India in the NSG. We are in touch with them,' an Indian government source told IANS.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is hosting the summit, underlined the need to adopt a strategic approach to strengthen and promote energy cooperation, particularly in key infrastructure projects including the ASEAN power grid and Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline.
This strategic approach will entail improved energy efficiency and the diversification of energy supply by developing alternative sources such as biofuels and civilian nuclear power, Arroyo said.
India also participated in the first East Asia Summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 14, 2005, and adopted a declaration that envisages accelerated efforts to promote community building to create a regional architecture and promote trade and investment between the members of the forum.
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