The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh commenting over the growing relationship between India and ASEAN countries said, "India -ASEAN relations are at an exciting stage".
'India and ASEAN have embarked on a new journey of closer cooperation and deeper ties for peace, progress and prosperity of the region, and the world at large', Singh said it after flagging down the India-ASEAN Car Rally along with the heads of State and Governments of ASEAN.
"The past two decades have seen enormous progress in our relations in many areas. Yesterday, we framed a new paradigm for our relationship by elevating it to a strategic partnership and announcing the conclusion of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment."
"I am confident that this agreement could be as transformational as our agreement on Goods has been."
Asserting that India - ASEAN future will be driven by the bonds of connectivity we build in the coming days, Singh said, "Whether it is by road from India to Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, or by air or sea to Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, our future will be driven by the bonds of connectivity we build in the coming years."
"These physical bonds will be strengthened by digital links, which will help our younger generations to network better."
"Together, this web of linkages will help unleash the vast economic potential of our region, accelerate development and deepen our strategic partnership," he added.
Lauding the car rally that traversed 8000 kilometres in eight countries in 22 days, Dr. Singh said. "This car rally symbolises the vision of ASEAN India countries where goods and services can flow freely.
"In the last three weeks, the car rally has rekindled these ancient bonds of friendship between India and ASEAN. It has also served to highlight the natural strategic imperative for our relationship in contemporary times," he said.
"Through the rally participants, we have seen the magnificent achievements reflected in Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Indonesia, Wat Phu in Lao, Sukhothai in Thailand and many other sites. The rally has, in the most vivid manner possible, reinforced the importance of strengthening connectivity in all its dimensions between India and ASEAN," he added. He further said that these physical bonds would be strengthened by digital links, which will help our younger generations to network better. Together, this web of linkages will help unleash the vast economic potential of our region, accelerate development and deepen our strategic partnership.
"For India, nowhere will this benefit be more pronounced than in our North-eastern states and I would encourage the establishment of institutions linked to the India-ASEAN relationship in the North-eastern states," he added.
Dr. Singh further thanked the leaders of ASEAN for their active support and the facilitation provided by their Governments for making this rally a success.
"While we flag down this Rally, we are also flagging off a new journey of closer cooperation and a deeper strategic partnership, not only for the benefit of our people, but also for peace, progress and prosperity in our region and the world. I have no doubt that a new era awaits us all," he added.
--With IANS Inputs--
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