Indira GandhiPrime Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.
[Thank you for your kind words of welcome.]
This is a very exciting day for me. It is wonderful, really wonderful, to be back. I enjoyed my two previous visits to India intensely, and have been eagerly looking forward to this one ever since it was arranged some months ago.
I have been looking forward to coming —to see you, Prime Minister, for whom I have the greatest admiration and affection: —to discussing with you and your colleagues the many important issues which concern both our peoples.
And I have been looking forward to coming —because I know how much India has achieved in recent years; —because I want to see some of those achievements for myself; —and because I have the most vivid memories of the warmth and hospitality shown to me wherever I went on my earlier visits. [end p1]
In an increasingly troubled world, Britain and India have always stood for democracy, for peace and for liberty. We share common democratic values and a fundamental commitment to peace and liberty. This gives us a special responsibility in international matters. It was your father, Prime Minister, that great statesman Pandit Nehru, who first enunciated the panch-shila, the five principles of peaceful coexistence. India's commitment since then to the path of peace is a shining example in a world increasingly beset by strife. I look forward to discussing with you, Prime Minister, what our two countries can together do to overcome the causes of that strife.
Prime Minister, my strong personal interest in India is well known to you. But my visit is also an expression of the feelings which our two countries have about each other. We respect each other's commitment to that democracy and freedom without which all other achievements would stand diminished. We share membership of the Commonwealth. We share a host of customs, ideals and objectives. [end p2] Our scientific, industrial and commercial links make a vital contribution to the prosperity of both our peoples. We have so much in common that even if I had not visited India before I could never feel a stranger here.
Prime Minister, I want my visit to open a still more fruitful chapter in our countries long relationship; a chapter in which we build on what has gone before; a chapter in which we work even more closely together than in the past drawing on each other's rich reserves of experience and talent.
Prime Minister, thank you for your invitation. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your welcome. I bring my heartfelt good wishes to you, to all the people of India, for the future of your proud and distinguished country.