PM pitches for greater Indo-ASEAN connectivity

Singh speak: Calls for an urgent conclusion of CEPA by March,2012

With the United States of America re-asserting its interests in Asia Pacific in a bid to effectively counter-balance Chinas dominance in the region,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today presented his own strategic agenda for East Asia and ASEAN,that seeks to not just bolster business ties by sealing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) soon,but also aims to physically connect India with ASEAN countries.

Terming New Delhis partnership with ASEAN as the foundation of its Look East policy,Singh told ASEAN leaders,Greater physical connectivity between India and ASEAN remains our strategic objective. There are several proposals to link the two regions by land and sea. These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway,its extension to Laos and Cambodia and the development of a new highway linking Vietnam.

There is also a study on a Mekong-India Economic Corridor that proposes the linking of corridors in the peninsular,and possibly the north east regions of India with the East Asia.

I would suggest that all these different proposals should be studied in an integrated manner so that we take considered decisions to optimize our resources and efforts, the PM said.

Indias trade with ASEAN has jumped 30 per cent in 2010-12 to cross the $50 billion mark. With such a rate of growth,we should be able to achieve our trade target of $70 billion by 2010, Singh said addressing the Ninth ASEAN-India Summit at Bali. A Cepa with ASEAN awaits conclusion of a commercially meaningful services and investment agreement. We should endorse the decision taken at the last round of negotiations in October 2011 to conclude the agreement by March 2012, he said.

Addressing leaders at the East Asia Summit,Singh said India was working actively to integrate with the region.

Against the global economic background that we are in,it is all the more important that we give full play to flows of trade,investment,services and ideas among ourselves. However,complex the task,we should persevere with the project of East Asian economic integration and in our efforts towards a comprehensive economic partnership in East Asia or Cepea, he said.

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The Prime Minister also noted that political and security issues have increasingly become a part of the discourse in the region,be it the ASEAN Regional Forum or the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Eight.

We believe that while respective differences and ensuring synergy between different forums,the East Asia Summit provides an opportunity to discuss all issues. It can contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and promoting peace,stability and security, Singh said.

Gillard to push for lifting uranium sale ban to India

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today assured India she will push with her Labour Party the case for allowing sale of uranium to India in December first week. At a pull-aside on the sidelines of the Indo-ASEAN Summit that lasted less than 10 minutes,Gillard told Singh that she would recommend uranium sales to India keeping in view the countrys growing energy requirements and impeccable non-proliferation records.

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I am taking the change of policy to my party conference in December, Gillard told reporters after the meeting.