India’s model of cooperation with friends unique: V.K. Singh

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on Tuesday said India’s model of cooperation with its friends and neighbours is unique as it likes to share the benefits of development with others and treat them as equal partners.

"India’s model of cooperation and providing assistance to our friends and neighbours is unique in the world. We like to share with our friends what we have gained in the process of development," he said at an event organised by CII and other chambers of commerce here in honour of visiting Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

"We like to give what we have so that you can also progress in a similar manner," he added, stressing that India’s model was in stark contrast to the countries which like to "showcase" themselves through assistance rather than actually helping in capacity building.

"Let me tell you there are countries in this world which follow a different model wherein they identify projects that will showcase them, not you. They would like to give you assistance which is termed in very expandable terms.

"And they would like to run those projects themselves so that you do not become capable of running them yourself. So our model is different," he said.

Citing the case of Bhutan, he said it has seen a major "transformation". "Today Bhutan sells power to us and it has been able to lift the living standards of its people with that money," he added.

He said that with the type of relations India enjoys with Nepal, he does not see any barriers in the commercial relations to grow between the two nations.

"We would like to invest in areas identified by you (Nepal) and which will help you grow. Also, we would like to do capacity building so that you are not dependent on anybody else and do your own things yourself," he said.

Singh also stressed that India’s relations with Nepal are not just historic, but are deep and multi-layered and "cannot be defined in words".

He said bilateral economic cooperation is beneficial for both countries.

"Our interest lies in ensuring a prosperous, peaceful and developing Nepal," the Minister said.