'India wants to contribute solidly to Asia Pacific stability'

India wants to contribute "very solidly" to the peace and stability process in Asia Pacific, as it looks forward to further strengthening ties with China, Japan and South Korea, a senior BJP leader has said.
Tarun Vijay, MP and a representative of India's new BJP-led government at the Shangri-La Dialogue here, said India wants a strong and strategic partnership with China.
He said India and China should create a mechanism that entails more people-to-people contact with emphasis on trade, industry, culture and youth exchange.
"We want to move ahead in areas like trade, industry, culture and youth exchange and create a mechanism where India and China will have more people-to-people contact," Vijay said.

He also described Japan as an all-weather friend of India.
Vijay said the Narendra Modi-led government looks forward to strengthening relations with countries such as China, Japan and South Korea and would give priority to its neighbourhood.

"We want to contribute very solidly in the peace and stability process in Asia Pacific," said Vijay, a member of the parliamentary committee on external relations.
The BJP lawmaker said the new Indian government has put its best foot forward by inviting the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries for bilateral talks after Prime Minister Modi's inauguration.
"(The) bilaterals have brought a new feeling of warmth and cordiality and sent a message that we can walk, work, dream and achieve together," Vijay was quoted as saying by The Sunday Times.

He, however, said that economic rejuvenation and inflation relief are the priorities of the Modi government, which plans to create an investor-friendly climate and improve the functioning of important sectors such as civil aviation.
These issues, as well as tackling corruption, would feature among the targets set up by the government for its first 100 days in power.
"The... Message is that here is a decisive government, which takes good decisions," he said.