India has sought to enhance cooperation with the ten nation grouping ASEAN for promotion of peace, security and stability in the region. In his address to the India-ASEAN Summit, at Phnom Penh today, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that this is a time of challenges for the region also called for an inclusive architecture that will help tackle maritime, security, counter terrorism, anti piracy and disaster management. The Prime Minister also said that India is prepared to conclude the Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment with ASEAN before the commemorative summit in New Delhi. The summit is scheduled to be held on 20th and 21st of next month.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said, the agreement on trade and goods has helped to take the trade to 80 billion dollars exceeding the target of 70 billion dollars. Dr. Singh said discussions on regional comprehensive economic partnership will be launched in the East Asia Summit tomorrow. Describing the 10th summit in Phnom Penh as significant and Dr Singh said that the commemorative ASEAN summit provides an opportunity to define the vision for the future.Dr. Singh said India is taking steps to further improve the investment climate and and looking forward for investments from the region. Prime Minister also offered expertise, resources and experience to support the region to accelerate growth. The Prime Minister said India supports objectives of an ASEAN community by 2015 and ASEAN master plan for connectivity.
Briefing reporters Secretary East in the ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Singh said Prime Minister stressed the need for greater connectivity between India and ASEAN. He said apart from people to people contact and high level exchanges, increasing air contact and digital services also came up for discussion.
The Prime Minister said that group of eminent person’s recommendations provide guidance for deepening the partnership. The group set up two years back was headed by Dr, Singh .Secretary east said that the leaders of the grouping hailed the report and called for its implementation.
Prime Minister, Dr. Singh also met the outgoing Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of ASEAN. The two countries have set a target of taking their total trade to 100 billion dollars by 2015. The meeting between the two leaders lasted for 45 minutes. Briefing reporters after the meeting the foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai said talks were fruitful and the all the issues taken up were discussed in detail. He said the issue of investment and access of Indian goods including pharma and IT was taken up by Dr.Manmohan Singh in the talks. Dr. Singh also held talks with Thai PM on a host of issues including progress in FTA and other issues. US president Barak Obama reached Phnom Penh this evening to participate in the ASEAN-US leadership summit.
