Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari has said India is actively and consciously building political, economic and trade linkages, besides retaining and reviving cultural linkages, with the countries of South East Asia as part of its Act East Policy. He said, New Delhi regards the ASEAN grouping and in fact the whole of South East Asia as an active part of that endeavour.<br/><br/>The Vice President was given a ceremonial welcome by the Indian Ambassador Ravi Shankar Aisola at Vientiane in Laos, Thursday evening. Addressing the Indian Diaspora on the occasion, Mr Ansari said the Indian economy is doing well and Indian private sector assisted by liberalisation and government policies is now looking outward.<br/><br/>Today, the Vice President was given the Guard of Honour at the Presidential Palace. He also had a meeting with the Vice President Dounyang Vorachith. India and Lao PDR also had delegation level talks this morning in which the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual cooperation. Union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat was also part if the Indian delegation at the talks.<br/><br/>The two MoUs will be signed between India and Lao later today. One is on Air Services with Lao and another on Quick Impact Project under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation, sources said.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>