India seeks tighter cooperation with South Pacific island nations: president

India said on Thursday that economic linkages and cooperation with South Pacific island countries are key factors in India's extended "Act East" policy.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said during a meeting with heads of state of several South Pacific island nations here that though India is separated from the Pacific island countries by oceans and continents, it is proud to have a long tradition of close friendship with them.

India is hosting the second summit of "Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation" (FIPIC) in the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, some 250 km from the Indian capital.

Mukherjee said the Indian government attaches great importance to its relations with their friends among the South Pacific island countries.

"The Pacific island countries are generously endowed with natural resources. India would be happy to work with them in harnessing their mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources," he said.

Fisheries, agriculture, oil and natural gas, mining and water desalination would be the priorities of cooperation between India and Pacific nations, he added.

Fourteen South Pacific island countries, Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are participating in the summit to start on Friday. Endi