In the India-ASEAN Special Summit held in New Delhi last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the leaders from the ten-member Asean (Association of South-East-Asian-Nation) countries held negotiations and discussed “strategic partnership” that would establish closer political, security and economic cooperation. While announcing the completion of the negotiations in the plenary session of the India-Asean Commemorative Summit, Mr. Manmohan Singh said that the Asean investments in India have grown multiple times and “ Asean countries too have emerged as major destinations for Indian companies”. Stressing on the need for freedom of navigation, the Prime Minister said: “India and ASEAN nations should intensify their engagements for maritime security and safety, for freedom of navigation, and for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law. We should also foster regional cooperation to counter piracy and respond to natural disasters. Naturally our ability to work together in regional and global context will be stronger if we are able to deepen our own engagement and cooperation”. The Prime Minister also insisted on the necessity of building connectivity between India and the ASEAN; but, the projects for this connectivity might require huge finances and here, he talked about “innovative ways of financing and executing these projects, which also draw upon the expertise and resources of the private sector”. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wanted negotiations on India-Asean air services agreement.A good beginning makes a good end.
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