I also believe that if we can light up each other's towns and villages, we can build a brighter tomorrow for our region. Or, face a future when someone looks down at us from Space, and says that this is the world's darkest corner. Let us treat electricity as a commodity like any other that we invest and trade in. India will fully support these initiatives in the region. We should also think with ambition to use solar energy and micro-grids to quickly provide clean power to villages across the region.
Our relations become stronger when we connect the lives of the ordinary citizens of our countries. That is why connectivity and services by rail and road are so important. We should also connect ourselves more by air. We will not only make a difference to the lives of our people, but also promote tourism in the region We should use the strength of shared heritage and our diversity to encourage tourism within our region, and present South Asia to the world. We could begin with the Buddhist circuit, but we don't have to stop there.
As we seek to build bridges to prosperity, we must not lose sight of our responsibility to the millions living without hope. We must work with our compassion of our hearts, but also with the power of science.
