Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Southeast Asian island nation has a central role to play in India's 'Act East' policy.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership entered into last year has injected new dynamism in ties between the two sides, he added.
The Congress chief made the remarks in a tweet, while presiding over a meeting of leaders from North East states of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim for preparation of Lok Sabha elections 2024.
EAM said, "ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India's Act East policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific. A strong and unified ASEAN plays an important role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific."
The defence minister said the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti Master Plan would act as a force multiplier in developing infrastructure facilities in the Northeast region.
Addressing the festival on the second day, Sangma said that northeast India and South East Asian nations can develop strong cultural and economic ties.
Sources said that the MPs met the Prime Minister to discuss issues concerning their states and the ongoing border dispute between Assam with other neighbouring states. The MPs submitted a memorandum on various issues pertaining to the development of the region along with border disputes between Assam and Mizoram.
Modi said that India’s Act East Policy is a significant cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific strategy, adding that ASEAN is at the core of Act East Policy.
Each of the essays have been written on diverse aspects of connectivity between India and the far-flung lands of Southeast Asia since time immemorial
The AEP has thus addressed the geo-strategic environment, the threat to maritime security and the need for a balance of power especially with China's emergence as a major Asian power in the context of close connectivity and cohesion amongst the nations in this region. ASEAN or the Asia Pacific region may encounter new challenges at any time with the changes of economic and political conditions at the international level and also with the changes in the balance of power.
