An Exclusive Conversation With the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.

Publication: Finance Wire

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Original Source: THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW

CHARLIE ROSE, HOST: Welcome to the broadcast. This week, the president of the United States goes to India. I just returned today from India with two of my colleagues, where we spent an extraordinary week talking to political, business and cultural leaders. They provide us with an insight into this extraordinary moment in India`s economic development and the possibilities of a new relationship with the United States. The centerpiece of this new relationship is about India`s nuclear facilities and its rise to a global power.

A visit to India and the interviews this week are the beginning of a series of visits our broadcast will take to various countries around the globe, where we will examine powerful ideas shaping the 21st century.

We begin this evening with an exclusive conversation with the prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANMOHAN SINGH, PRIME-MINISTER, INDIA: I`ve mentioned to the president last time I met, Mr. President, the people of India, particularly the thinking part of our population, our scientists, our technologists, have rightly or wrongly nursed this grievance against the United States, that the United States has joined with other countries to erect a system of controls which denies our country access to dual-use technologies, to prevent us from leapfrogging in the race for social and economic development.

And I said, I appeal to you, I think to look at India-U.S. nuclear cooperation in that grand setting. I look upon it as an act of historic reconciliation. The future growth of China -- China`s influence is bound to rise. And we all believe that we must remain engaged with China. We have differences with China with regard to the border issue. We are making a sincere effort to resolve - resolve those differences, and the president told me that`s precisely what you should do, I think. He says the United States also wants to remain engaged with China, but I also believe that without looking at each other as rivals or as competitors, in a democratic India, operating in the framework of an open economy, an open society has, I think, some significance for developing countries, not only in Asia but outside Asia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLIE ROSE: The prime minister of India for the hour. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHARLIE ROSE: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for letting us visit you here, at the official residence.

MANMOHAN SINGH: It is a great pleasure and great privilege to have you with me at my residence.

CHARLIE ROSE: Thank you very much. Anybody who comes here from America always comes back and says it`s really a remarkable experience. I mean, the last time I was interviewing you, you quoted Victor Hugo, saying, as you had said to the parliament, "nothing can stop an idea .

MANMOHAN SINGH: Whose time has come.

CHARLIE ROSE: . whose time has come." In terms of the United States and India, you think that applies today, an idea whose time has come?

MANMOHAN SINGH: I sincerely believe that, and that`s what I said in my address to the U.S. Congress. I said there are partnerships based on principle. There are partnerships based on pragmatism. And fortunately, when it comes to Indo-American relations, both concentrations find a new robust phase of relationship, a multi-fasted relationship which I believe exists in the interests of both our countries.

CHARLIE ROSE: Can it be transformational?

MANMOHAN SINGH: It could be transformational. It`s -- I hope it will be transformational.

CHARLIE ROSE: So, signaling a new what?

MANMOHAN SINGH: A new India which realizes its destiny in the framework of an open society, in the framework of an open economy, respecting all fundamental human freedoms, great respect for pluralistic, inclusive value system. I think that`s what unites India and the United -- India and the United States. And I do hope that working together, our two countries can write a new chapter in the history of our relationship.

India has, of course, aspirations of getting out of its poverty, ignorance and disease, which still afflict millions of people. But I do believe that we have something to offer to the rest of the world, including the United States. Nowhere else you will find a country of India`s diversity, of India`s complexity, one billion people trying to seek their social and economic salvation in the framework of a democracy, in the framework of an open economy.

I sincerely believe what happens in India has, I think, lessons, morals for the future evolution of humankind in the 21st century.

CHARLIE ROSE: What are those lessons?

MANMOHAN SINGH: I do believe that the future of civilization belongs to those who would lay emphasis on working together instead of talking about clash of civilizations. We -- what we need is a dialogue amongst civilizations. And we need multiculturalism, respect for diversity, tolerance, respect for diverse faiths. And that`s what we are doing in our country. And if we succeed, and if we succeed in doing all this in the framework of a democratic policy, I believe a large part of humanity will draw appropriate lessons from what is the wave of the future in the 21st century.

CHARLIE ROSE: And you`re prepared in this new strategic partnership with the United States to use that to help in terms of bridging and creating dialogue with the rest of the world where it might be necessary to have that kind of background?

MANMOHAN SINGH: We have -- yes. I think what we`re trying to do is, I believe, has lessons for what happens to the rest of the developing world. But not only developing world. With the revolution in information technology, with the revolution in transport technologies, I think just geography has lost its all significance. I believe whether it is the United States or Europe, they will all end up as multicultural societies. So India is this great experiment of a billion people of such great diverse persuasions working together, seeking their salvation in the framework of a democracy. I believe it will have some lessons for all the multicultural societies, and I believe all societies, all thriving societies of the future are going to be multicultural societies.

CHARLIE ROSE: So on Wednesday, March 1st, the president of the United States, representing the world`s oldest democracy, comes to see you, representing the world`s largest democracy. How did that happen? Because it is said that the president saw you at the United Nations, one story, and pulled you aside or asked for a moment and said, I understand your country`s demand for oil. I understand China`s demand for oil. I understand our demand for oil. I want to help you with the nuclear issue, and let us work on that, and let us try to get past what has been an obstacle.

MANMOHAN SINGH: Well, I don`t recall his telling me at the United Nations, but I do recall his telling me at the very first meeting that I had with him. And we were together...

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