India committed to ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy : Govt

New Delhi: India is firmly committed to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the government is committed to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbors.
“India is an active economic partner of its neighbours and is involved in various development projects in neighbouring countries,” an official source said here.
Under its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, the Government of India is committed to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbors, it said.
Explaining further on the issue, sources point out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Maldives and Sri Lanka in June.
As many as six agreements in the areas of White Shipping, Hydrography, Health Cooperation, Ferry and Cargo Services and Cooperation in Capacity Building in Customs and Civil Services were signed during Mr Modi’s Maldives visit.
The Prime Minister also visited Sri Lanka on June 9 and “the main purpose of the visit was to convey our solidarity with Sri Lanka in the aftermath of terror attacks”.
Sources said the visit to Sri Lanka was of bilateral nature and discussions were held to further strengthen the relationship.
“India’s relations with Sri Lanka and Maldives stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of these countries with any third country,” the source said.
India and Maldives have also agreed to start a ferry service between Kochi in India and Kulhudhuffushi and Male in Maldives.