PM Modi's promise to partner nations: 'Our development cooperation does not come with conditions'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth on Thursday jointly inaugurated the new Supreme Court building in Port Louis through video conferencing.

India's approach to development is mainly human-centric and the country is making development partnerships that are marked by respect, diversity, care for the future, and sustainable development, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech during the virtual inauguration ceremony.

The new Supreme Court building was completed with Indian assistance as part of New Delhi's thrust on cooperation with countries in the Indian Ocean Region.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the court's building symbolises the strong bilateral partnership between the two countries.

"For India, the most fundamental principle in development cooperation is respecting our partners," said PM Modi.

"That is why our development cooperation does not come with any conditions.  It is not influenced by political or commercial considerations," he added.

The court structure construction is one of the five projects under the USD 353 million Special Economic Package (SEP) extended by India in 2016.

The new building will house all divisions and offices of the Supreme Court of Mauritius.

Underlining India's development partnerships, Modi said the projects India undertook are diverse - the Parliament building in Afghanistan, the Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre in Niger, an emergency and trauma hospital in Nepal, and emergency ambulance services in all nine provinces of Sri Lanka.

"We have tried to make cricket popular in countries as diverse as Afghanistan and Guyana by helping build stadiums and other facilities," said PM Modi.

India is at the forefront of a major housing project in Sri Lanka. "Our development partnerships reflect the development priorities of our partner nations," he said.

On the future being about sustainable development, Modi said, "Human needs and aspirations cannot be in conflict with our natural surroundings.  That is why we believe in both human empowerment and care for the environment."
 
On special partnership with Mauritius, PM Modi said that India not only shares the water of the Indian Ocean with Mauritius, but also a common heritage of kinship, culture, and language.

"Our friendship draws strength from the past, and also looks towards the future. India takes pride in the achievements of the people of Mauritius," he said.

"The spirit of Mauritius is inspiring," he added.