Israel exuberant over its relations with India

New Delhi, Jan 29: Israel today said it is fully committed to vigorously move forward in its 'promising relations' with India, and exuded confidence that both the countries would reap their growing benefits in the coming years.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of full diplomatic ties between the two countries, it said the journey started right after the creation of Israel in 1948, continued with the opening of the Israeli Consulate in Mumbai in the early 1950s and reached its peak with the establishment of full diplomatic relations on January 29, 1992.

''During the last 15 years, our bilateral relations with India have reached unprecedented heights in diverse fields and do represent well developed and a mature web of relations,'' it said, adding that trade and economic activities, science and technology, defence and security, art and culture, tourism and people-to-people contacts manifested mutually beneficial achievements to respective nations.

Pointing out that it shared with India similar democratic values and political system, Israel said, ''Both are relatively young states, representing ancient people and cultures, which left their mark in the history of human civilisation. Both embarked on the nation building process against many obstacles.'' Underscoring India's growing clout in global politics, it said the challenges for future bilateral relations were no less demanding as the Asian continent in general, and India in particular, was assuming a major role in the world economy and global politics.

''The task is to strengthen and deepen our relationship manifolds and to tap the almost unlimited scope of our bilateral cooperation. Our young, fast growing and knwledge-based societies and economies provide us with the human and material resources to achieve our bilateral goals,'' it added.

UNI