India for deeper interaction with C'wealth nations for science

India today called for a deeper interaction with Commonwealth nations in the field of science and technology so that the country can be self-sufficient in all spheres of energy.

"It is important that we deepen our science interaction in the Commonwealth system. The time has come when we should focus and deepen our relationship in science," Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan said. 

He was addressing the inaugural session on a discussion on 'Commonwealth in 21st Century' here.

Chavan said the country faces a number of challenges in terms of "political challenge of terrorism, climate change, food security and self sufficiency in energy" and these can be resolved with the help of organisations like the Commonwealth.

He said it should be the effort of everyone to communicate science to the common man. Highlighting the importance of regional arrangements between nations, Chavan said "Commonwealth has been a unique system.

Today we see that nations are scrambling to form regional arrangements and the Commonwealth has shown the way".

The conference is being held in an effort to elicit general opinion about the importance of Commonwealth in the run up to the sporting extravaganza here in 2010.