India seeks Swiss cooperation for nuclear energy

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) Stressing that India would have to shift to alternate sources of energy like nuclear power to sustain its near double digit growth, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari today sought cooperation of countries like Switzerland and Japan who too owed a substantial part of their success to energy from nuclear sources.

Welcoming the Parliamentary Delegation of Switzerland headed by Speaker of Upper House of Parliament Christoffel Brandli in Parliament he said India had attained nine per cent growth in the GDP and thus could provide for social welfare acitivities to include lesser privileged sections of society. In the long run the country would need to look for power from nuclear energy sources and this is where Switzerland could extend support.

Mr Brandli on his part endorsed Mr Ansari's view and said India's demand would be considered appropriately but pointed towards difficulties in Europe where the countries were divided.

The Swiss delegation is in India to observe 60th anniversary of Indo-Swiss Friendship Treaty signed six decades ago by the two countries. He said Switzerland was the oldest democracy and India the biggest democracy and the bonds between the two countries would only be meaningful, he felt.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman observed that the cooperation between the two countries was mutually beneficial. On the trade front there had been progress but both nations need to explore other avenues for strengthening mutual cooperation, he said.

UNI MCN NC AS1708