New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): With parts of the energy-rich North Africa and West Asia witnessing political unrest in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, India has underlined its high stakes in peace and stability in the wider Gulf region, including Iran and Iraq.

"For India, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf are vital partners. Almost 6 million Indians live and work here, and our trade is now over $100 billion a year," National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon told a high-profile audience comprising diplomats and experts at the Gulf Forum held in Riyadh Monday.

"India has a stake in issues relating to peace and stability in the wider Gulf region including Iran and Iraq," Menon stressed.

The Gulf Forum 2011 was organized by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Saudi Arabia's ministry of foreign affairs.

Alluding to wider shifts of global power to Asia, Menon called for closer partnership between India and the Gulf region on a host of global issues.

"I am confident that, working together, India and the Gulf will be able to face the challenges that the new geopolitics are throwing up and take advantage of the opportunities that these changes are opening up," he said.

In a veiled reference to China, Menon said that Asia was turning out to be a cockpit of rivalries. "If the centre of gravity of world politics, and soon the economy, has shifted to Asia, including the Gulf, Asia is now also the cockpit of rivalries and the stage on which international competition is played out," he said.

"Uncertainty and insecurity lead powers to follow hedging strategies, each acting on their own worst fears, and thereby risking making them come true," he said.

Referring to the power shifts and developments in North Africa, West Asia and Gulf, Menon stressed that if this transformation is to be continued, for the benefit of the global economy, energy will be the key.

"And the Gulf will be critical to the rest of Asia's growth and therefore to global economic health," he added.

Against this backdrop, Menon pitched for "an open, inclusive Asian security architecture to be evolved by the powers of the region itself".

"We face common challenges of proliferation, terrorism, and maritime security and need to find a way to ensure the peace and stability that is essential to our futures," he said.

Underlining that India will "not be like the traditional big powers", Menon quoted former prime minister Indira Gandhi to argue that "India will be a different power, a power that works for development, peace and international understanding, in its own interest and in that of its friends and partners abroad".

"Asia is not Europe and our indigenous strategic cultures are strong and lasting," he stressed.