Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers his statement at the start of the ASEAN-India summit in the ongoing 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits at the National Convention Center, Thursday in Vientiane, Laos. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday stressed the importance of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and said ASEAN, the association of southeast Asian nations, was central to India’s objective in that direction. The Prime Minister was speaking at the 14th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos. The PM added that enhancing the connectivity in all its dimensions – physical, digital, economy, institutional and cultural- has been at the heart of India’s strategic partnership with ASEAN. Trade between India and ASEAN stood at USD 65.04 billion in 2015-16 and comprises 10.12 per cent of India’s total trade with the world.

Source: Indian Express September 08, 2016 03:39 UTC