PM leaves for India-ASEAN Summit
Ways to expand cooperation with East Asian countries will top the agenda of two-day visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who left for Singapore today to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summit.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Ways to expand cooperation with East Asian countries will top the agenda of two-day visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who left for Singapore today to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summit.
"I will discuss with the ASEAN leaders new measures to expand the horizons of our cooperation," Singh said ahead of his visit which is aimed at further strengthening India's "Look East Policy".
He said the cooperation should include not just greater economic integration but also people-to-people contacts, science and technology, health, transport, human development and information and communication.
Noting that the trade between India and the ASEAN had been growing rapidly, Singh said it had "surpassed" the expectations as it stands at $30 billion.
India and ASEAN are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement aimed at opening up their markets but differences over duty reduction in palm oil, pepper and tea have become stumbling blocks for firming up the pact.
Keen to resolve the sticking issues in the FTA, an official panel is meeting in Singapore to negotiate tariffs on sensitive items ahead of the Summit.
Trade ministers from India and ASEAN are also expected to make last ditch efforts to iron out differences in the trade pact.
"I will discuss with the ASEAN leaders new measures to expand the horizons of our cooperation," Singh said ahead of his visit which is aimed at further strengthening India's "Look East Policy".
He said the cooperation should include not just greater economic integration but also people-to-people contacts, science and technology, health, transport, human development and information and communication.
Noting that the trade between India and the ASEAN had been growing rapidly, Singh said it had "surpassed" the expectations as it stands at $30 billion.
India and ASEAN are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement aimed at opening up their markets but differences over duty reduction in palm oil, pepper and tea have become stumbling blocks for firming up the pact.
Keen to resolve the sticking issues in the FTA, an official panel is meeting in Singapore to negotiate tariffs on sensitive items ahead of the Summit.
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Trade ministers from India and ASEAN are also expected to make last ditch efforts to iron out differences in the trade pact.
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