Manmohan Singh wants nuclear summit to focus on terrorism, proliferation

New Delhi, Apr 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wants Nuclear Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama to focus on nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies.

Dr. Singh will be departing on Saturday to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC, and the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) and Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) Summits being hosted by President Lula da Silva in Brasilia. "India welcomes President Obama's initiative to hold a summit on Nuclear Security. Nuclear energy is poised to play a growing role in addressing the developmental challenges of our times," he said in his departure statement.

"I expect the Summit to focus on nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies. These are legitimate concerns, which require firm responses.

"India has a well-developed indigenous nuclear energy programme, which dates back six decades. We have an impeccable record of security, safety and non-proliferation, which reflects our conduct as a responsible nuclear power," Dr. Singh said.

The Prime Minister said that India has been a consistent advocate of complete and universal global nuclear disarmament.

"We were among the first countries in the world to call for a world free of nuclear weapons. I am encouraged by the fact that this approach is finding greater resonance today. We will continue to call for more meaningful progress in this direction," he said.

Dr. Singh during his stay in Washington will also be holding bilateral meetings with President Obama, President Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan, President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Harper of Canada and other world leaders.

From Washington the Prime Minister will proceed to Brasilia to attend the fourth IBSA Summit and the second BRIC Summit. These groupings reflect the growing role of emerging economies in shaping the global economic order.

Dr Singh said: "The BRIC countries are among the largest and fastest growing economies with rich human and material resources. They represent the future of the global economic landscape. We have a high stake in the revival of the global economy, an open trading system, energy security, combating climate change and addressing non-traditional threats to international security."

The Prime Minister will hold separate bilateral discussions with Brazil President Lula da Silva. In Brasilia, Dr. Singh will also meet President Hu Jintao of China and President Dmitry Medvedev f Russia. (ANI)