India to be friend with China, US: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India is aiming to have a cooperative relation with both China and US in present context. Prime Minister has said that the meeting in Seoul will discuss the threats posed by nuclear terrorism and the measures required to prevent terrorists from gaining access to sensitive nuclear material and technologies.

During his visit to Seoul, Prime Minister said that China and US are both our close and India hope a better bilateral relationship with these countries. He said that China is our closest neighbour with longest boarder. Apart from this China is India's major trade partner and so India is bound to strengthen its relationship with China.

Also India's relations with US was transformed in 2005. It was in July that year that Manmohan Singh and then US president George W. Bush laid the framework for the India-US civil nuclear agreement.

Prime Minister said that three million people of Indian origin live and work in the US. The country is also India's largest business partner.

Talking about the agenda to the Seoul tour, Prime Minister said that meeting with South Korean president is of more important where two sides will talk about "giving depth and greater meaning" to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, strengthen people-to-people contacts, boost cooperation in science and technology, and coordinate thinking in matters relating to security and global events. Also since this is an occasion, which coincides with Nuclear Security Summit, we can work together to promote nuclear security and safety in this world that we live in, he added.

(With input from IANS)