Indo-Asean pact to add momentum to ties: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said a long-term partnership agreement with the members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) would provide a new dimension to India's relations with the regional grouping.

Final touches are being given to a 'partnership agreement', which is expected to be signed here at the third India-Asean Summit beginning tomorrow.

The Prime Minister, who arrived here today with a high-level delegation to attend the summit, said, "This inclusive approach should give added momentum to this partnership between India and Asean."

The long-term partnership document would provide a new dimension to India's relations with Asean, he said.

The agreement, which sets out the direction of India's ties with the countries of the region in various spheres for the next decade, was discussed at the meeting of the foreign ministers, and the pact is all set to be signed on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, in a statement, said, "This landmark document incorporates a plan of action for even more intensive cooperation on political and security issues as well as in the economic, social and cultural fields."

"It is indeed a matter of gratification that a number of new dimensions, such as cooperation in remote sensing, space technology and Information Technology have been added to our two-millennia-old cultural, religious and civilisational links," he said.

The Prime Minister's visit to the summit is also set to boost India-Asean trade from the current $13 billion to $30 billion by 2007.

Singh, who arrived here to a warm ceremonial welcome, drove straight from Wattay International Airport to Dong Pasak villa, where he would be staying for the next three days.

The Prime Minister, who held bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Lao and Vietnamese counterparts Boungnhang Vorachith and Phan Van Khai, will have interactions tomorrow with his Japanese and Singaporean counterparts Junichiro Koizumi and H Loong. He will also call on Lao President Khamtay Siphandone.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold a maiden meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is scheduled to visit India early next year.