Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday identified knowledge and innovation forming as the core to celebrate the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Singapore, adding that the city-state is a role model for India in terms of infrastructure development in urban areas.
Prime Minister Modi met his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, after the completion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India summit at the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) here, and the two leaders discussed topics of mutual interest.
"We are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of India-Singapore relations. At the core of the golden jubilee celebrations of India-Singapore relations should be the youth, knowledge and innovation," the official twitter handle of the Prime Minister's Office quote Prime Minister Modi as saying.
"In India when we talk about urban development Singapore is always at the forefront of the discussions," he added.
Prime Minister Modi also invited Singapore to participate in the 'Make in India' initiative, adding the potential India has as a tourist destination for the city-state's Buddhist populace.
"Due to @makeinindia_ initiative there are several possibilities. We want to give impetus to technology, manufacturing: PM @narendramodi," the Prime Minister's Office quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying.
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"Both leaders are talking of the potential of tourism. PM @narendramodi talks about the Buddhist circuit in India," the office added.
In response, Prime Minister Lee told Prime Minister Modi that there is a lot of goodwill for India in the ASEAN community.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi took part in the 12th ASEAN-India Summit and stated that India's 'Look East Policy' has become 'Act East Policy' and felt honoured to be able to participate in the event.
Besides meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Modi had earlier held meetings with the Malaysian and Thai Prime Ministers and with Brunei's Sultan.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to call on Myanmar political leader and National League for Democracy (NLD) chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi.