Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday the government would continue to move on the path of liberalisation and globalisation even while taking care of the needs of the poor and deprived.

Allaying apprehensions that the Left parties-backed United Progressive Alliance government would go slow on key reforms issues, Singh said there was a consensus on integrating India with the world economy.

"I commit our government to an open, caring economy, an economy where the marginalized are empowered so that they become partners in development and share the benefits of growth," he said while addressing the inaugural session of the Partnership Summit 2005, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

"There is no doubt that the idea of economic openness and social democracy have captured the minds of our people.

"These ideas have become a material force and, indeed, a motive force for change. India today is willing to be more closely integrated with the world."

"I am aware that at times some of the views expressed by our alliance partners on the Left may have raised some doubts in your minds," Singh told the captains of Indian industry and foreign delegates.

"But I am sure you will leave this summit reassured and convinced that there is today a wide-ranging consensus on the necessity for India to be actively engaged with the world economy," he added.

He said the government favoured successful functioning of the multilateral trading system and to broadening the World Trade Organisation agenda to enhance flow of goods, services and labour.

Singh said the government was also committed to lowering tariffs to ASEAN levels and that it favoured free trade agreements with Singapore and ASEAN.

"I have stated my commitment to the idea of creating an Asian Economic Community, an arc of prosperity across Asia, in which there are no barriers to trade and investment flows and to the movement of people."

The prime minister said India had to be a more open economy and must derive the benefits of globalisation, even as it equips itself to deal with the challenges of the new economy.