President Ram Nath Kovind has said that India's Act East policy reinforces its ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties. <br/><br/>Speaking after receiving ASEAN leaders at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, Mr Kovind said, India greatly values ASEAN's role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. He said, India reiterates its support to ASEAN's unity and centrality and it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with ASEAN in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable. <br/><br/>The President said, India-ASEAN relations have come a long way since India established the Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN in 1992. He said, today ASEAN is a Strategic Partner for India and there is 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN. <br/><br/>The President said, India and ASEAN are bound by history and by geography. He said, culture, commerce and connectivity and ideas and thought have woven India and ASEAN together in one common fabric. <br/><br/>He said, the partnership is based on the shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people to people contacts, nurtured through the millennia. The President hosted a lunch in the honour of the ASEAN leaders.