India-ASEAN have convergence of interests in security

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Asserting that India and ASEAN have a convergence of interest in security sphere also, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Indo-ASEAN relationship had progressed from sectoral dialogue partnership to full dialogue one ever since the 'Look East' Policy was initiated in 1991.

Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on India's 'Look East' policy (including relations with Japan), the External Affairs Minister said India's focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN was an outcome of the changed global political and economic scenario since the early 1990s and march towards economic liberalisation.

''ASEAN provides a land bridge for India to connect with the Asia-Pacific. India and ASEAN have a convergence of interest in the security sphere also. The India-ASEAN relationship has steadily progressed since the policy was initiated in 1991 from sectoral dialogue partners to full dialogue partnership,'' he said in his opeing statement.

He said the political level interactions at the Summit level which began in 2002, had been steadily strengthened through multi-faceted diplomatic interaction.

Other than ASEAN, another significant pillar of India's 'Look East' policy is BIMSTEC.

The Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is another initiative which brings together India and five ASEAN countries viz. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mr Mukherjee said relations with Japan had witnessed a transformation following the landmark visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tokyo in December 2006.

''The two Prime Ministers established an India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership that provides a vision for charting the future course of bilateral relations.'' During the visit of the External Affairs Minister on March 22-23, the first high level Strategic Dialogue with the Foreign Minister of Japan was held.

Important projects for joint collaboration in the economic field including the Dedicated Freight Corridors Project and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Initiative were discussed.

Negotiations had also begun on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The Minister also took the opportunity to brief the Consultative Committee members on the 14th SAARC Summit held recently in New Delhi.

UNI