New Delhi: Emphasising that it was not seeking any 'exclusivesphere of influence' in South Asia as 'often misconstrued', India today  (Feb 10, 2007)said the countries of the regionneed to work with 'mutual trust and confidence' for the common futureand that New Delhi was ready to take the initiative in this regard.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Indiawants to deal with all its neighbours on the basis of 'sovereign equality andmutual respect' and this is reflected by revision of Friendship Treaty with Bhutan thatgave Thimpu more powers.

Favouring creation of stake for all countries of the region in the economicsuccess of the other, he told a conference of SAARC Editors here that Indiawill play a positive role in the establishment of new trans-border transportnetworks and energy corridors.

Underlining that South Asia has a commonfuture, he said, "We have to work for it with mutual trust and confidence.For its part, Indiais committed to developing political relations with its South Asian neighbourson the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect."

Mukherjee, who was addressing the concluding session of thetwo-day meet, said, "What we seek is not an exclusive sphere of influence,as is often misconstrued, but a shared sphere of mutual development andcooperation."

 India's visionfor the SAARC region is one of open regionalism.

noting that this was underlined by New Delhi's strong support to the entry of Chinaand Japaninto SAARC as observers.