PM to leave for Bali tomorrow to participate in India-ASEAN Summit

New Delhi, Nov 16 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will embark on a visit to Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday to participate in the ninth India-ASEAN Summit and the sixth East Asia Summit.

"The ninth India-ASEAN Summit to be held on the November 19, would take stock of ASEAN-India relations which have witnessed a rapid period of growth in the past 20 years, from the time that India became a sectoral dialogue partner in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1996 and a Summit level partner in 2002," said Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry.

"There is a mutuality of interest in the ASEAN-India relationship. The key drivers are partnership, capacity building, dialogue and connectivity at the civilisational, cultural, geographic and institutional levels and addressing common challenges. The pace and scope of progress has been facilitated by a Plan of Action that ASEAN and India have agreed to periodically. In recent months, we have sought to intensify our collaboration and a number of projects have been suggested to ASEAN member states through the ASEAN Secretariat," he added.

He further said Dr. Singh would also participate in the 18-country sixth East Asia Summit on November 19, which is being held against the backdrop of the increasing importance of Asia in geopolitics.

The United States and Russia would be participating for the first time formally as members of this Leaders-led forum. The East Asia region comprises some of the more dynamic economies and emerging powers which lends great utility to a dialogue between its Leaders on strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity.

Leaders are expected to give direction to coordination of international effort on the five core areas of the EAS i.e. energy, education, finance, pandemics and disaster management as also connectivity and Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA).

Leaders are expected to adopt a Declaration on Principles of Mutually Beneficial Relations, and another on ASEAN Connectivity, which includes appreciation of the Comprehensive Asia Development Plan (CADP).

Leaders would meet in a Plenary Session and also at a Retreat. They are expected to discuss the future evolution of the East Asia Summit agenda. They would also discuss issues of regional and international interest during the Retreat session.

On the sidelines of these two Summits, Dr. Singh would be holding a few bilateral meetings. These meetings are likely to focus on bilateral and EAS related issues.

Following the meetings in Bali, Dr. Singh would leave for Singapore on the evening of November 19 on a two-day bilateral visit. He last visited Singapore in November 2007 for the India-ASEAN and East-Asia Summits.

The Prime Minister's visit aims to maintain the high-level dialogue with Singapore, which is India's major partner in South-East Asia. The visit will also provide an opportunity to exchange views on bilateral, regional and global developments.

Singapore is India's largest trade and investment partner from the ASEAN region and now accounts for a third of our overall trade with South East Asia. (ANI)