Distinguished Members of the Iranian delegation,

I would like to once again express my deep gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation.

2. My visit is a link in the process of political dialogue between our two countries.  Our interaction today is also in keeping with our traditional ties of friendship and the process of exchange of ideas and opinions which has taken place between our peoples all through history. Our dialogue reflects a mutual desire to give greater content to our relations by enhancing ongoing cooperation and by identifying new areas of cooperation.  I am confident that our deliberations today and my meetings with your colleagues during the visit will make a significant contribution to this process.

3. Excellency,  our Joint Commission has been a useful vehicle for strengthening and diversifying our economic cooperation for the welfare of our peoples.  We should focus on speedy implementation of decisions for  a greater momentum in our bilateral cooperation. Our Defence Secretary has recently visited Iran and we have identified a wider scope for our cooperation in this field as well. 

4. We should actively encourage greater people-to-people contact.    I am happy we have decided to hold an India Week in Iran and a corresponding Iran Week in India.  They can help to enrich the content of our bilateral interaction.  Our bilateral links could be further reinforced through regular exchanges between Parliamentarians of our two countries. 

5. India considers Iran an important source of its energy requirements.  We have an enormous and accelerating demand for energy.   We will continue to look to Iran not only for crude oil, of which we are already buying substantial quantities, but also for natural gas. The Joint Committee on the transfer of natural gas to India is pursuing its mandate seriously and in a time-bound manner.  Mutually satisfactory, long-term, cost-effective and secure mechanisms for the transfer of gas have to be put in place.  The Committee needs to comprehensively explore all viable alternatives for this purpose.

6. Our trade and economic cooperation should not remain confined to oil and natural gas.  A push has to be given in other sectors too.  For this purpose we have to encourage the private sectors of both countries. I am sure that the captains of India’s trade and industry, who are in Iran these days, will establish purposeful and productive links with their Iranian counterparts.  The level and diversity of the business delegation illustrates the appreciation in Indian business circles of cooperation opportunities in Iran. 
7. Excellency, India has made great progress in many fields of high technology.  Our achievements in Information Technology are recognised the world over.  We would be happy to cooperate in this field for mutual benefit. Developing countries like India and Iran need to maximize their cooperation for harnessing technology for socio-economic development so that the digital divide does not create new inequalities. 

8. Iran is a natural and important land bridge to Central Asia.  The India-Iran-Turkmenistan Transport and Transit Trade Agreement and the North-South Transport Corridor Agreement are important developments for regional economic integration. 

9. I will briefly touch upon the situation in Afghanistan and the negative signals emanating from there.  The terrorism, illegal narcotics trade and extremist ideologies flowing out of the Taliban controlled areas of Afghanistan have an adverse impact on the peace and security of our region.  The destruction of historical artifacts by the Taliban displays an inherently violent mentality.  Both India and Iran have to confront these developments, which directly impinge on our national interests and security concerns.  I believe that our regular consultations on the situation in Afghanistan and our continuing cooperation in addressing the problem is vital for ensuring regional security.

10. Excellency, a regular high-level dialogue between our two countries sustains the momentum in our bilateral relationship.  I have great pleasure in inviting Your Excellency on a State visit to India.  Your visit would enable us to carry forward the cooperative endeavours which we shall be discussing during my visit here. 

Thank you.