In his keynote address at a meeting of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) here, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India is aware that as the present chair of Saarc it has an important responsibility.

As the largest country in the region, India is ready to accept symmetrical responsibilities, including opening up markets to South Asian neighbours without insisting on reciprocity, he said.

During the summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced duty free access of products of the least developed countries (LDCs) in the 8-nation regional forum to Indian markets from this year, Mukherjee said, adding that his country is committed to reducing the sensitive lists for these LDCs.

Mukherjee urged the Saarc member-countries to dismantle barriers curbing movement of people, goods and investments, noting that global economy is indicating a shift in its centre of gravity from countries of Europe and North America to Asia for the first time in the past 350 years.

"Today, the countries of South Asia are on the threshold of a historical moment. Collectively, we stand a good chance of transforming the economic conditions of our people and in the development of human civilisation in the 21st century," Mukherjee said.

It was with this perspective that India has extended its hand of friendship and cooperation to all neighbours and proactively addresses whatever differences there may be, he said.