Indo-Asean: PM to meet Wen, Koizumi in Laos

If networking is the name of the game, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be in useful company when he leaves on Sunday for the third A...

If networking is the name of the game, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be in useful company when he leaves on Sunday for the third Asean-India summit in Laos.

South-East Asia is becoming increasingly important to India, with foreign trade topping $13 billion and expected to climb to nearly $30 billion by 2007. But even as he meets Asean leaders—many of whom having just assumed power—Singh will find that the other ‘‘guests’’ at this gathering are no less interesting.

On the cards, during his three-day visit, are meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The details are still being worked out, said Secretary East Rajiv Sikri.

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The Asean grouping has steadily expanded its economic partnerships, with China, Japan and South Korea being regular dialogue partners and India being invited to the summit for the third time. This time around Australia and New Zealand are also joining in the talks.

India is looking at initiating a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement with Asean soon even as it joins the wealthier South-East Asian nations in chalking out special programmes for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam—the so-called CLMV nations. Not only was this a part of India’s Look East policy, but closer ties with some of these countries would also help develop India’s North-eastern states.

That is why India was looking at developing a highway to Myanmar and Thailand. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had flagged off a car rally in Guwahati and would catch up with it in Laos as after its journey across south-east Asian countries.

In this screengrab from a video posted on Sept. 4, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering during a meeting with National Awardee Teachers at his official residence, in New Delhi. (@NarendraModi via PTI Photo)

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