India committed to implementing TAPI gas pipeline: Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has said India is fully committed to implementing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipleline project by 2017.

Mukherjee conveyed this to Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov who called on him here. Meredov, also the Foreign Minister of the country, had met the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday.

"India is deficient in energy resources whereas Turkmenistan is rich in hydrocarbon. Our common endeavour should be to build enduring ties between our two friendly countries, based on a long-term energy partnership. This project is mutually beneficial for economic reasons. It is also important for bringing peace and development to our common region," a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said quoting Mukherjee.

The President said the 2010 visit of Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to India has given a strong impetus to strengthening of bilateral ties.

The President also thanked Turkmenistan for its support for India's candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.

Meredov warmly reciprocated the President's words and described India as a long-standing friend and a partner of Turkmenistan both in bilateral cooperation as well as in multilateral fora, the statement added.