India pledges $2.5 m to Indo-ASEAN fund

Sinha made this announcement at the first 10 plus one meeting, which essetntially means discussions between coordinating countres in the 10-member ASEAN and one of its ten dialogue partners.

Malaysia and Laos were the coordinators for the India meeting and was represented by its Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Al-Bar and Deputy Premier Samsanad Leng.

He called for greater links between the governments and the private sector to realise the full benefits of joint research.

Stating that India was a major victim of the dark forces of terrorism, Sinha said it is ready to work together both bilaerally with ASEAN countries and in the India-ASEAN framework to develop practical programmes of cooperation to combat this menace.

Sinha regretted that India-ASEAN tourism had achieved little progress even though it is a theme much commended.

He hoped that the first India-ASEAN summit in Cambodia in November this year would be an apt moment to explore a highly fruitful synergy in their relationship.