Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Vientiane, Laos, late Tuesday, September 6, 2016, to start his first official visit to Laos, where he will attend the East Asia Summit and other leaders’ meetings.
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Asean unity came into question over the issue of the South China Sea, claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – and with members like Laos and Cambodia being seen as pro China.
Li said Beijing wants to take the anniversary as an opportunity to work with Vientiane in deepening their traditional friendship, mutually-beneficial cooperation, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges in a bid to push forward the two neighbors’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
After the NDA government turned the UPA government’s Look East Policy into Act East Policy, New Delhi has been working on a number of projects to improve connectivity with southeast Asia, the key projects being the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the Kaladan multi-modal transport project connecting the Sittwe port in Myanmar with Mizoram in northeast India.
“Our engagement and approach can be best encapsulated in just one word – connectivity”, he said.
“The Asean leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues”, he added.
“The event will be followed by the convening of the 28th Asean Summit or the plenary session”. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told reporters after the plenary meeting that the President had also emphasized the importance of empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through technological and digital innovation, as well as through market and financial facilitation.
Trade between India and ASEAN stood at $ 65.04 billion in 2015-16 and comprises 10.12% of India’s total trade with the world.
“Singapore will work with our Asean partners, as well as the worldwide community, to combat the disease”, he added.
The ASEAN-India economic integration process has got a fillip with the creation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area in July 2015, following the entry of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements.
“As global political and economic instability continues to increase, the AEC is expected to play an even greater role as a growth engine driving the East Asian economy and a leader in regional cooperation in East Asia”, she said in the interview.
The East Asia summit will be attended by the leaders of the 10 Asean nations and those of India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russian Federation.
India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit.
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Three statements/declarations are under discussion for adoption at the EAS – the Vientiane Declaration on Promoting Infrastructure Development Cooperation in East Asia; an EAS Declaration on Strengthening Responses to Migrants in Crisis and Trafficking in Persons; and an EAS Statement on Non-Proliferation.
