PM’s 3-nation visit to boost economic ties

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will leave for a three-nation Asian visit from Sunday aimed at giving a boost to Look East policy and furthering economic ties.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will leave for a three-nation Asian visit from Sunday aimed at giving a boost to Look East policy and furthering economic ties.

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Singh will first travel to Japan for an annual summit, then to Malaysia and later Hanoi in Vietnam for the India-ASEAN as well as East Asia summit.

“Our strategy (of Look East policy) was to qualitatively enhance synergies and civilisational linkages with the dynamic East and South East Asian region. There are dimensions to India that encapsulate an identity that is South Asian, that is South-east Asian, that is East Asian”, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters.

The announcement of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), between India and Japan will be made during the trip. “The agreement signifies the economic alignment of two of the largest economies in Asia and will lead to a marked increase in our business and economic ties. CEPA is a win-win proposition,” Rao said.

A business team led by Mukesh Ambani will also travel to Tokyo.

PM will travel to Hanoi to participate in the 8th India-ASEAN Summit and 5th East Asia Summits on October 30.