Exploit each other's complementarities: EAM tells SAARC

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) India today appealed to SAARC nations to exploit each other's complementarities in the larger interest of the overall economic prosperity of the region.

''In determining our shared destiny, we must exploit each other's economic complementarities,'' External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, addressing the "SAARC Journalists Summit III", organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).

He said the 14th SAARC Summit, beginning here tomorrow, would be different from the previous meetings of the regional grouping. ''Afghanistan is a new member of the SAARC...it will provide us a link between South Asia and Central Asia,'' he added.

Mr Mukherjee said the summit provided an opportunity to member-nations to undertake measures for qualitative and uniform development of the region. ''We have to achieve a large number of goals as a regional grouping,'' he added.

The Minister said the United States, Japan, China, South Korea and the European Union would attend the summit as observers, reflecting the importance it was gaining as a regional economic bloc.

India's vision for SAARC was that all countries, big or small, would have an equal status and share in the economic well-being of the people of the region, he added.

He also called for steps by all SAARC countries to encourage free movement of media personnel in the region. India, he said, would unilaterally announce a liberalised visa regime for SAARC journalists.

The Foreign Ministers of other SAARC countries also addressed the gathering.

UNI