Date:12/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/12/stories/2005121202620200.htm

Back PM hopes for more intra-Asian trade linkages

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Dec 11

THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, left for Malaysia today with the expectation the East Asia Summit would articulate a collective "long-term vision" for shaping the regional architecture and promoting community building.

During his four-day visit to Malaysia, the Prime Minister is to participate in the fourth India-ASEAN Summit and the first East Asia Summit that will be held on December 13-14.

"The East Asia Summit would be the first-ever gathering of leaders of countries that have made the region an engine of growth for the world economy. It is the beginning of a process that brings together countries with increasing inter-linkages and growing inter-dependence," Dr Singh said here on the eve of his departure to Kuala Lumpur.

Apart from the 10 ASEAN nations, the six other countries that have been invited for the East Asia summit are: India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Regarding the India-ASEAN summit, Dr Singh said that it would be an occasion to review the progress that has been made in India's relationship with the ASEAN countries and also consider the new initiatives for cooperation that could be jointly undertaken.

"Our relations with ASEAN as a whole, and with its individual members, have progressed steadily and satisfactorily over the years. They have acquired a qualitatively new dimension since 2002, when we initiated our annual summit dialogue. We attach great importance to our relations with ASEAN, which constitute a central element in India's `Look East' policy," Dr Singh said.

In Malaysia, Dr Singh would also address the Special Leaders Dialogue organised by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.