Thursday, March 2 2006 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Contending that New Delhi sought a neighbourhood of peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today(Mar 2, 2006) said India and the US must fight terrorism wherever it exists as it threatens democracy everywhere.

"We seek a world free of poverty, ignorance, disease and the threat of terrorism. The US and India must work together in all possible fora to these ends," he said welcoming President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at a banquet hosted by him in their honour.

"We must fight terrorism wherever its exists, because terrorism anywhere threatens democracy everywhere," the Prime Minister said.

He said that India wanted a neighbourhood of peace and prosperity, and added while the sub-continent had been home to all great religions, it was a 'powerhouse' of human creativity.

"With wisdom and farsightedness, we South Asians can transform not just this region but the whole world," he said adding in the journey of development and modernisation, and social change and empowerment, India saw the United States as a 'partner, a friend and a well-wisher.'

Among those present at the banquet were UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and I K Gujral, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, several Cabinet Ministers, some chief ministers, BJP President Rajnath Singh, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha MP Shobhana Bhartia, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sensor Board Chairperson Sharmila Tagore, top officials, industrialists and US delegates.