New Delhi: Ahead of his 10-day three-nation trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday tweeted that he was looking forward to the three major multilateral meetings of ASEAN, East Asia Summit and the G20, and also to meeting the leadership of Myanmar, Australia and Fiji.
The prime minister, who goes on a foreign trip November 11, in a series of 12 tweets yesterday wrote that he will travel to the three countries to participate in various multilateral meetings and summits.
About Myanmar, his first stop, the prime minister said he will attend two key multilateral summits — with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the East Asia Summit Nov 12-13 at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s new capital.
Modi said India’s ties with Southeast Asia were “deep rooted” and strengthening relations with the ASEAN nations was an important part of his government’s ‘Act East’ policy.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that the Modi government will strive to give a greater push to India’s Look East Policy, turning it into “Acting East”.
As part of this, the government has increased its engagements with South and Southeast Asian nations, including through the building of connectivity corridors to boost trade and people-to-people contact.
Modi also said he will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of Myanmar, including President Thein Sein.
He described Myanmar as “a valued friend. Having stronger relations with Myanmar is a priority area for us”, he wrote.
Myanmar is virtually the door to India’s Look East Policy as it has a border with four northeast Indian states. IANS
