The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has left on a two-nation tour to Brunei and Indonesia to attend India-ASEAN and East Asia summits. In the first leg of his 4-day tour, the Prime Minister will attend the 11th India-ASEAN Summit at Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei tomorrow. Dr Singh will also meet Australian Prime Minister in Brunei tomorrow. The Prime Minister's visit will further strengthen India's strategic partnership and trade ties with ASEAN nations
During the second leg of his tour, the Prime Minister will visit Indonesia to attend the 8th East Asia Summit in Jakarta tomorrow.
The Prime Minister has said that India's participation in the ASEAN summit will help create an economic community in the region. In a statement before his departure to Brunei to attend India-ASEAN Summit, Dr Manmohan Singh said the progress in India's relation with ASEAN countries will be reviewed and initiatives will be explored to add further momentum to the relationship. The Prime Minister said that India's engagement with the ASEAN and its member countries is the corner stone of our look east policy. He added that his visit to Brunei and Indonesia will further intensify New Delhi's engagement with East Asia and will contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific region.