By NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : Giving a fillip to New Delhi’s “Look East” policy, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake a three-nation tour to Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia next month to discuss greater integration and engagement in diverse fields, particularly trade, reports the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Singh will, however, not attend the United Nations General Assembly later this month in New York where India will be represented by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, official sources here say.
The Prime Minister will travel to Japan and Malaysia for bilateral visits and Vietnam for the 8th Association of South East Asian Nations-India Summit from Oct 24 to 30.
In Tokyo, civil nuclear co-operation, enhancing trade ties and UN reforms are expected to dominate the talks that Singh will have with his Japanese counterpart, Naoto Kan.
The two countries have already begun talks on civil nuclear co-operation and have expressed desire to conclude an agreement in this regard as soon as possible.
The two sides are also working to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) before Singh’s visit to Tokyo amid expectations that the two-way trade between Asia’s second and third largest economies will witness a 10-fold increase from 12 billion USD in 2008-09.
Singh and Kan are also expected to discuss ways to re-energise the G-4 grouping that is pushing for reform of the UN, particularly expansion of the Security Council and inclusion of new permanent members, the sources said. The G-4 consists of India and Japan along with Brazil and Germany.
In the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, Singh will attend the Asean-India Summit, whose focus this year will be enhancement of integration of the East Asian region with India in terms of connectivity and trade.
India has been keen on greater economic integration with East Asia and the creation of a supportive regional financial architecture. New Delhi also hopes to see a realisation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP) and the Mekong-India Corridor.
The visits are crucial for India’s desire to upgrade its ties with East Asia, particularly in economic sphere. The Indian Prime Minister made it clear when he told the Indian Heads of
Missions here last month that foreign policy should be oriented towards East and South East Asia which were poised for a sustained growth rate in the 21st century.