New Delhi: Observing that "challenges" are there in the immediate neighbourhood, Foreign Secretary Shashank today (Dec 1, 2003) underpinned the importance of going ahead "further" with confidence- building measures (CBMs) for economic cooperation.

Soon after taking charge of the key slot, 59-year old Shashank, a seasoned career diplomat who succeeds Kanwal Sibal, also spoke of the longer-term mission of Asian economic unity.

"Of course, the challenges which are there in the immediate neighbourhood – to go ahead further with the confidence-building measures for economic cooperation and for moving towards PTA (Preferential Trading Arrangement) and FTA (Free Trade Agreement) type of programmes which have been prepared for us," he said without naming any country.

A 1966-batch IFS officer, Shashank, who will have an eight-month tenure till July 2004, also stressed on cooperation with African and Latin American countries, besides the European Union and others.

"We have important relations with traditional friends and we have to strengthen them in whatever manner we can do," he told reporters at his South Block office.

He assumes office at a time when there is thaw in Indo-Pak ties and those with the US, China, Russia and Europe are on an upswing.

"I have certain responsibilities, which I hope to discharge to the best of my abilities, especially with the help of my colleagues who have been with me in my postings abroad as well as in the ministry for a long time," he said soon after being escorted to his office by Nirupama Rao, additional secretary, Navtej Sarna, foreign office spokesman and officials.

Engaging him would be Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Nigeria for the Commonwealth Summit starting from December 4.

Shashank, who has served in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from 1982 to 1986, will also find himself in the midst of preparatory work leading up to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in the Pakistan capital in the first week of January.

During his long diplomatic career, Shashank has held postings in a host of countries including Denmark, South Korea, Libya, Egypt, Vietnam, Brazil and in India's Permanent Mission at the UN in New York

He also served in various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and was secretary (Economic Relations) and secretary (Europe, Africa and America) before moving to the top slot.

"We have been planning to obtain the best synergies to meet the challenges of the present phase of globalisation. At the same time, take advantage of all the opportunities that are available. Indian diplomacy has a very important role to play," he said.

PTI