"India is committed to strengthening and expanding its relations with China and the two countries shall carry forward the process of discussion to resolve the boundary question with political vision and a practical approach," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Sunday.

Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 58th Independence Day, the prime minister said that India is also committed to strengthening and expanding its relations with Pakistan.

Manmohan Singh said that the positive trends which commenced with (former Indian prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi's visit to China in 1998 have provided a sound basis for later trends in the bilateral ties.

Referring to relations with Pakistan, the prime minister said that India is committed to carrying forward the peace process with Pakistan but cross-border terrorism and violence would make this task "more difficult and complex," adding that "we have always been in favor of a purposive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. "

"The edifice of peace that we wish to build must stand on the twin pillars of mutual trust and confidence."

Manmohan Singh said that the "assurance of peace and prosperity in our neighborhood" was an important priority for India.

"Our government will give the highest priority to building closer political, economic and cultural ties with all our neighbors," he said.

Singh said that all India's neighbors are developing countries whose priority, like that of India, will also have to be the improvement of the quality of life of their citizens and these countries are not only bound together by common borders but also by common destiny.

The prime minister noted that India values the friendship of all nations, big and small, and it will seek closer economic relations with all countries.

"As a democratic country of more than one billion people we aredestined to play an important and positive role in world affairs, in structuring a just international order," Manmohan Singh added.

Source: Xinhua