PM Narendra Modi may share vision for Act East Policy at Singapore lecture

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi is expected to outline his vision for India’s much-debated Act East Policy at the ‘Singapore Lecture’ during his visit to the city-state on November 23-24, after over 20 years of then-PM Narasimha Rao announced Delhi’s Look East Policy from the same platform. Singapore Lecture is reserved for visiting leaders to outline their vision for the region.

PM’s visit will also witness unfolding of bilateral strategic partnership, sources in the Singapore government told a select group of Indian journalists.

The document that will elevate Indo-Singapore ties to the level of Strategic Partnership is aimed at cooperation in the fields of urban planning, skills development and connectivity among others.

Interestingly, Singapore is hosting Modi less than a fortnight of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, hoping to bring a balance in the region amid Beijing’s territorial claims and aggressive policies.

Orchid to be Named After PM Modi

Singapore wants to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi by naming an orchid (city-state’s national flower) after him during his visit to the Southeast Asian country on November 23-24. But the Modi government is yet to accept the proposal.