All the 10 ASEAN leaders would be chief guests at our Republic Day celebrations. Ensuring the presence of all the 10 ASEAN leaders for two days is itself no mean achievement. Officially, New Delhi would discuss the future of India’s relations with Southeast Asia on the theme of “Shared Values – Common Destiny”. Political freedom takes precedence over economic development, although India – like many other Asian countries – is no exception to the authoritarian streak so evident among its ruling class. The 16-member RCEP comprises ASEAN and India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: dna January 25, 2018 02:03 UTC