Hyderabad:  Against the backdrop of tension between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over different issues, President Pranab Mukherjee today suggested that both states should live together in peace and harmony with good neighbourly relations.

Highlighting that Hyderabad is an important region in the entire country having made rapid progress in areas like Information Technology whose benefits have reached other parts of the country as well, he said it is important that both states lived in harmony and contributed to nation's progress.

"We can choose our friends but we can't choose our neighbours," he said, stressing that a choice is to be made whether the neighbours co-exist in harmony or otherwise.

The President was speaking at an event where he received the first copy of book by Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao.

He also quoted one of the 10 commandments of 'love your neighbour' to drive home the need for both states to live together in peace.

"Work in close harmony. Because, we belong to India," he said.

The President is in Hyderabad for a customary southern sojourn.