Plated diplomacy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must have had cause to celebrate his “Look East” foreign policy after the successful Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting in New Delhi last week. It marked some real progress on agreements in services and investments to complement the one on trade that was signed in 2010. This was certainly evident at the farewell lunch hosted by him and his wife at the Taj Palace hotel where the menu was presented to each guest on a lavishly embossed and painted marble plate.