Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei this evening to participate in the 11th India-ASEAN Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit. He was received at the airport by Haji Mohammad Abdoh Bin Dato Serisetia Hj Abd Salam), Permanent Secretary in the Prime minister’s Office in Brunei. Dr. Singh Attended a gala dinner today hosted in the honour of leaders arrived in Bruneian capital to attend ASEAN and related summits. AIR correspondent reports that along with attending India-ASEAN and East Asia summits, Dr. Singh is also scheduled to meet the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott for a bilateral meeting on Thursday.

India aims to expand its trade ties with ASEAN countries through a Free Trade Agreement in services. The agreement will make entry of Indian professionals easier in ASEAN countries. Highly placed Indian sources have said that Free Trade Agreement between the two sides is expected to be implemented by July 2014. Legal vetting of all aspects of the agreement has been completed and approvals are under consideration among the ASEAN countries. The process of approvals is expected to be completed by the end of this year. India expects its trade with ASEAN to 100 billion dollar by 2015 1015 and 200 billion by 2022 after signing the agreement. Both sides are also working on boosting connectivity projects including Trilateral Highway linking Thailand and Myanmar with India.