India The New Bright Spot Of Hope: Modi

SEOUL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India "is the new bright spot of hope" for the region and the world and that the country's progress will help make the Asian dream "a bigger reality".

Addressing the Asian Leadership Forum, which was also attended by South Korean President Park Geun-hye, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Sheikha Mozah of the Qatar royal family, Modi said that India's progress will be an Asian success story.

He said India's annual growth has rebounded to 7.5 percent and it was poised to grow further.

Modi said: "Asia will succeed more when all of Asia rises together", adding that the prosperous countries must be prepared to share their resources and markets with those who need them.

"Asia must not have two faces - one of hope and prosperity; the other of want and despair. Growth must be more inclusive within and across nations. This is the obligation of national governments, but also a regional responsibility," he said.

"This is the principle that guides India's policies. And, it comes from our timeless belief in the world as one family "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".

He stressed on innovation and "frugal manufacturing for affordable renewable energy" to combat climate change.

For Asia's inclusive growth he proposed pooling of innovation and technologies to transform the region's agriculture.

Modi said that by 2025, a majority of Asians will live in cities and India will host around 11 percent of the global urban population.

He said creating livable and sustainable cities of tomorrow should be a collective goal.

"That is why in India, I have placed so much emphasis on urban renewal and smart cities. And, there is much that we can learn from cities like Seoul," he said.

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