ASEAN, Indian, and Japanese senior officials joined with the private sector at a symposium titled “Towards the Realisation of ASEAN Connectivity Plus: Moving Forward with ASEAN-India Connectivity” in Bangkok, Thailand on November 27, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

In a press release issued on November 29, the ASEAN Secretariat said the event focused on the critical building blocks of ASEAN-India connectivity, which include realising the Thailand-Myanmar-India Trilateral Highway, the Mekong-India Economic Corridor (MIEC) and the greater involvement of the private sector.

ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh gave the keynote address and stressed the need to explore creative approaches to financing, creating an enabling environment and developing effective institutions at the national, sub-regional and regional levels, to enhance ASEAN-India links.

Thai representative to the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee Pradap Pibulsonggram was quoted as saying that the benefits of the relationship will be realised through better understanding of initiatives, regular exchanges of information and joint policy discussions among all relevant parties.

Sharing the same view, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Kimihiro Ishikane said strengthening ASEAN-India connectivity will create new business opportunities for many companies, including Japanese ones.

The symposium was a joint effort between the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs under the auspices of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.-VNA