India's Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed Thursday reiterated his country's commitment to promoting the cause of developing countries and pledged $2 million to a fund meant to promote development of these nations.

"India is happy to lend its support by pledging $2 million to the South Fund on Development and Human Circumstances for development projects in the countries of the South," Ahamed told leaders at the second South Summit here.

"This summit gives us the opportunity to restore development as the centrepiece of the global agenda, with primacy of the UN," he said.

"We place great emphasis on our special initiatives for developing countries, including Africa, and have been sharing our experience in information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical sciences, renewable and non-conventional energy and remote sensing, among others," Ahamed said, stressing knowledge-sharing among developing nations.

Recalling the vision of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his role in promoting Afro-Asian solidarity, Ahamed described the South-South cooperation as not a "mere phrase, but a way of life in India".

He mentioned a proposal to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. "India is considering earmarking $1.5 billion for lines of credit to be used to help Africa fight the battle against HIV/AIDS and other pandemics."

"India has written off the debts of all the highly indebted poor countries and is happy to note that the G-8 has now also accepted the same approach," Ahamed said.

Pointing out the special needs of the least developed, land-locked and heavily indebted countries, the minister urged developed countries to fulfil the commitment of 0.7 percent contribution of their gross national product for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries.

"The solidarity of the South is essential for making the WTO Doha Round development-oriented in reality," he said.

The Second South Summit and the meeting of the G-77 ministers also focused on trade and development in the context of the discussions about UN reforms.

Ahamed made a strong pitch for democratisation of the UN and India's case for a permanent seat on its Security Council.

"Such permanent membership of developing countries would ensure that human rights are not politically misused, laws are not made against interests of developing countries and the responsibility to protect is not used for interfering."

The summit adopted the Doha Declaration and the Doha Plan of Action, which address issues of interest to the South and outline a course of action.