The Hindu : National : North-East will benefit from interaction with ASEAN: Manmohan

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

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North-East will benefit from interaction with ASEAN: Manmohan

By Our Special Correspondent

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, flags off the Indian-ASEAN car rally in Guwahati on Monday. — Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

GUWAHATI, NOV. 22. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today said that the development of the North-East region and its integration with the larger regional processes is one of the determining factors of India's engagement with regional cooperation as under ASEAN or sub-regional cooperation as under BIMSTEC.

Flagging off the India-ASEAN car rally here, Dr. Singh said India's growing interaction with ASEAN is critical to fulfilling the promise of the 21st century being an Asian century and that the Centre wants the North-Eastern States to be in the forefront of these interactions and to reap the benefits of enhanced peace and prosperity.

He expressed the hope that the car rally — that will go through nine countries traversing over 8000 km from Guwahati to Indonesia — would capture the imagination of the people in demonstrating the essential oneness of our integrated region.

`Journey to the future'

``I see this car rally as a journey to the future, demonstrating the possibilities that can come about in trade, tourism and people-to-people contact by bringing our countries together,'' Dr. Singh said.

Altogether 240 participants in 59 vehicles of 28 teams from ASEAN member-countries are taking part in the rally.

The function was attended by a host of dignitaries including the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Ong Keng Young, the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, besides Ministers and diplomats from member-nations.

Dr. Singh said the North-Eastern States are India's gateway to the ASEAN.

``This is true not just in terms of physical connectivity but also in terms of economic outreach and cultural affinities."

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