India's partnerships with major world powers continue to develop: Patil

New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Monday said that India's partnerships with the major world powers continue to develop.

Addressing a joint session of parliament, President Patil said: The United States is a valued strategic partner with whom we have a multi-faceted relationship based on our national interests. India's special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia was further strengthened during Prime Minister's visit to Russia last year."

" We attach high priority to the development of our Strategic and Cooperative Partnership with China. The rapid growth of our trade and economic relations with China has significance not only for our bilateral relationship, but for the global economy as a whole," she added.

She said India's relations with the European Union and its member-states are based on shared values and expanding commercial, economic and people to people exchanges.

"India's relations with Japan continue to expand in the economic as well as security spheres based on strong political will on both sides," she added.

Asserting that India played an active part in the G-20, BRICS and IBSA processes, Patil said: " We look forward to shortly hosting the next BRICS Summit in India."

"As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we have sought to work with the rest of the world in efforts to maintain international peace and security while respecting the established principles of international law, national sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

Emphasising that India's 'Look East' policy has resulted in a significantly deeper engagement with countries of East Asia and South-East Asia, Patil said: " We were privileged to have the Prime Minister of Thailand as the Chief Guest for this year's Republic Day celebrations. India will, for the first time, host a commemorative India-Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December this year to mark twenty years of our dialogue partnership."

She said India has a vital stake in the peace, stability and progress of the countries of West Asia and North Africa.

"Over six million Indians live and work in the Gulf region. We would like the people of the region to chart their own pathways to nation building and development at this historic time of transition and change. We are unwavering in our support to the Palestinian cause," she added. (ANI)