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            New Delhi:
            Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday underlined 
            India's commitment to strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) 
            and its desire to strengthen strategic partnership with Paris in all 
            areas, including civil nuclear cooperation and defence.  
              
            
            
            Manmohan Singh heads today to Sharm Al Shaikh in Egypt to attend the 
            15th NAM summit after a short trip to Paris where he will be the 
            chief guest at the July 14 National Day celebrations.  
              
            
            
            Alluding to "a close and wide-ranging strategic partnership" between 
            India and France, Manmohan Singh said: "We would like to build upon 
            our partnership in the areas of trade and investment, high 
            technology, space, nuclear energy, defence, education, culture, 
            tourism and scientific research and development."  
              
            
            
            In a statement before he left on the five-day overseas visit 
            yesterday, Manmohan Singh underscored the relevance of non-alignment 
            in the post Cold War era and said India will play its part in 
            strengthening the NAM.  
              
            
            
            "Non-alignment has been the bedrock of India's foreign policy since 
            it was enunciated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Non-alignment remains 
            an article of faith for us," Manmohan Singh said.  
              
            
            
            "In the post-Cold War era, when the world is no longer divided into 
            two military blocs, the Non-Aligned Movement has a renewed role to 
            play in the emerging world order," he said.  
              
            
            
            "The diversity and universality of the Non-Aligned Movement offers 
            NAM a unique opportunity to address the challenges of today." 
             
              
            
            
            The prime minister said "India will play its part in helping NAM to 
            regain its moral high ground to address issues which are of direct 
            concern and relevance to developing countries such as sustainable 
            development, climate change, food security, energy security, 
            terrorism and reform of the architecture of international 
            governance."  
              
            
            
            The highlight of Manmohan Singh's trip will be his meeting tomorrow 
            with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines 
            of the NAM summit in Sharm Al Shaikh, Egypt. 
              
              
              
            
              
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