Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has affirmed that India’sengagement with ASEAN and its member countries is the cornerstone of thecountry’s “Look East policy and has evolved into a strong,comprehensive and multi-faceted partnership in recent years.
The PM told the press on October 9 before leaving for visits toBrunei , where he will attend the 11 th India-ASEAN Summit and the 8 thEast Asian Summit, and Indonesia , two of India ’s importantpartners in Southeast Asia .
The India-ASEANrelation started with a strong economic emphasis, focusing on commerceand connectivity, but has increasingly acquired strategic content, hestated.
Singh said that the Summit in Bruneiwill be the first since the elevation of bilateral relations to aStrategic Partnership at the special Commemorative Summit in New Delhiand the conclusion of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement inServices and Investment in December 2012.
“It willgive me and my ASEAN colleagues an opportunity to review the progress inour relations over the last few months and explore initiatives to addfurther momentum and content to our relationship,” he noted.
According to the PM, the East Asia Summit is the foremost forum forpromoting peace, stability and prosperity in the dynamic Asia Pacificregion.
Given India ’s vital stakes in theregion, the country has been closely involved in the evolution of anopen, balanced and inclusive regional architecture, on the basis of thecentrality of the ASEAN.
India sees the East Asia Summit as aspringboard to regional cooperation and integration and isparticipating in the negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership among the ASEAN and its FTA partners, which will help createan economic community in the region.
Singh said hisnext destination, Indonesia , is not only a key ASEAN member and acountry with growing regional and global profile, but also an importantbilateral partner of India .
India seesrelations with Indonesia as an essential part of its integration withthe broader region, he said, adding that the visit also aims toreiterate India ’s commitment to building a stronger partnership withASEAN.
He expressed his hope that his visits toBrunei and Indonesia will further intensify India’s engagement to theEast, which has been at the forefront of its foreign policy, andcontribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific.-VNA
The PM told the press on October 9 before leaving for visits toBrunei , where he will attend the 11 th India-ASEAN Summit and the 8 thEast Asian Summit, and Indonesia , two of India ’s importantpartners in Southeast Asia .
The India-ASEANrelation started with a strong economic emphasis, focusing on commerceand connectivity, but has increasingly acquired strategic content, hestated.
Singh said that the Summit in Bruneiwill be the first since the elevation of bilateral relations to aStrategic Partnership at the special Commemorative Summit in New Delhiand the conclusion of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement inServices and Investment in December 2012.
“It willgive me and my ASEAN colleagues an opportunity to review the progress inour relations over the last few months and explore initiatives to addfurther momentum and content to our relationship,” he noted.
According to the PM, the East Asia Summit is the foremost forum forpromoting peace, stability and prosperity in the dynamic Asia Pacificregion.
Given India ’s vital stakes in theregion, the country has been closely involved in the evolution of anopen, balanced and inclusive regional architecture, on the basis of thecentrality of the ASEAN.
India sees the East Asia Summit as aspringboard to regional cooperation and integration and isparticipating in the negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership among the ASEAN and its FTA partners, which will help createan economic community in the region.
Singh said hisnext destination, Indonesia , is not only a key ASEAN member and acountry with growing regional and global profile, but also an importantbilateral partner of India .
India seesrelations with Indonesia as an essential part of its integration withthe broader region, he said, adding that the visit also aims toreiterate India ’s commitment to building a stronger partnership withASEAN.
He expressed his hope that his visits toBrunei and Indonesia will further intensify India’s engagement to theEast, which has been at the forefront of its foreign policy, andcontribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific.-VNA
