'Foreign policy should be an extension of our national policy': President Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that India's foreign policy must be an extension of the country's national policy.

President Mukherjee, who was called on by the Delegates to the fifth Annual Heads of Mission Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, said the theme of the Conference - "India's place in the changing world order" is extremely relevant.

'Our foreign policy must be an extension of our national policy. There are certain basic fundamentals in our foreign policy that we have inherited from our core civilization values and our freedom movement. They must continue to guide us in our relations with our neighbours," he said.

President Mukherjee said India has been always committed to global peace, but is conscious of the fact that efforts for the same should begin from our neighbourhood.

"We can change friends but not neighbours. Change is the only constant and India's foreign policy must adapt to changing scenarios in the world," he added.

He further said terrorism remains a major challenge, and added that India was the first country to recognize at a high personal cost the threat that terrorism posed, and to warn the world about it.

"Many countries in the Indian sub-continent have been victims of terrorism. It has witnessed the largest number of political assassinations of its leaders. This challenge of terrorism needs to be addressed through greater collective efforts. No country can insulate itself from this menace," he said.

President Mukherjee said India deserves to have her rightful place in the comity of nations, and called on the Heads of Missions to work towards this goal.