India on Monday welcomed the release of a policy document by the European Union, outlining the bloc's roadmap to significantly scale up ties between the two sides in a range of areas like trade, investment, defence and security.
The Ministry of External Affairs Ministry (MEA) said India looked forward to engaging with the EU not only on a robust bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues of shared concern.
"The report recognises India's consistent economic growth, demographic dynamism and modernisation drive and calls for greater India-EU political, security and defence cooperation," the MEA said.
It further said the EU document refers to India as an emerging global power that plays a key role in the current multi-polar world and a factor of stability in a complex region.
India's engagement with the EU has substantially intensified since the establishment of strategic ties in 2004.
India-EU cooperation now spans over 30 dialogue mechanisms, covering foreign policy and security issues, trade and investment and sustainable development among others.
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The strategy paper, released last week, said the EU has an "interest" in strengthening its political, economic and defence cooperation with India as a strong partnership with New Delhi was key for a balanced EU policy towards Asia as a whole.
"India looks forward to engaging with the EU not only on a robust bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues of shared concern and for reforming the multilateral system and institutions to better reflect contemporary global realities," the MEA said.
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