Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warned against the forces of “expansionism” in the world and said today’s global situation looked more like the 18th century.
Suggesting that the world was divided into two streams of “Vistarvaad” (expansionism) and “vikasvaad” (developmentalism), the Prime Minister referred to encroachment on nations, their takeover and “entry into seas”.
However, the Prime Minister did not name any specific country or countries indulging in this kind of encroachment.
The remark of “entry into seas” in this part of the world could be read as a reference to China, but Mr. Modi himself spoke in general teams.
“The world is divided into two streams: 'vistarvaad' (expansionism) and 'vikasvaad' (developmentalism). We have to decide whether we will allow the world to slip into the clutches of expansionism or touch new heights by pursuing developmentalism,” the Prime Minister said.
“Those who walk the path of the Buddha believe in the path of developmentalism that guarantees peace and progress. But all around us the world is looking like the 18th Century and we see expansionism,” he stressed.
“Sometimes encroach on a country, sometimes enter into the seas, sometimes enter a country to take it over. We can see these tendencies,” Mr. Modi said.
Taking it as a given that the 21st century will be Asia’s century, Mr. Modi, however, said the question of what kind of Asian century it would be remained to be answered.
“What the Asian century looks like will depend on how deep India-Japan relations will be like,” the Prime Minister stated, adding that the two countries had a great responsibility to ensure peace and progress in the 21st century.
Ease of business
Addressing a business meeting on Monday, his first day of official meetings, Mr. Modi said a “special management team” would be set up in the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure ease of business and speedy clearances.
The Japanese would be free to include two members to work with this special management team, the Prime Minister told his audience of top business leaders from India and Japan.
Mr. Modi also promised business leaders that the Government would undertake all legal reforms necessary to make business processes easier.
The Prime Minister argued that good governance was linked to ease of doing business.
He said that a Japanese management system had been introduced in the Prime Minister's Office to make the PMO more efficient.
‘Commerce is in my blood’
While addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said, “Being a Gujarati, commerce is in my blood. There is money running in my blood. It’s natural for me to understand all this.”
“I don’t believe that businessmen want concessions. I think businessmen want a proper environment to grow,” he said, adding that the system or the government had to provide such an environment.
According to him, in a policy-driven state, even low-ranking officials had no hesitation in taking decisions.
In the coming days you'll get the same speed and response that you have experienced in Gujarat in the past: PM >@narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >September 1, 2014
