bolster ties: PrezImphal, Nov 21 (PTI) The decision to invite the heads ofall 10 ASEAN nations as guests for the Republic Daycelebrations next year shows India's commitment tostrengthening the ties with the regional bloc, President RamNath Kovind said today.
He also said the growth of the Northeast region is linkedto the development of neighbouring countries, including theASEAN nations.
"We have invited all the 10 leaders of ASEAN countries tobe our honoured guest for the Republic Day celebrations nextyear. This will be a historic event and that shows ourcommitment to strengthening out relationship with Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations," he said.
"The development of the Northeast is tied to thedevelopment of India's neighbours and ASEAN nations. Friendlypartner countries from other regions are also integral to ourvision for the Northeast and can contribute substantially,"Kovind said.
He said the geographical position of the Northeast regionmakes it the "obvious gateway" of India, linking the economiesof the Indian subcontinent and ASEAN nations. This potentialhas to be tapped.
"The states of the Northeast are true drivers of India'sAct East policy," the president said.
He noted that initiatives such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the Kaladan multi-modaltransit transport project are "critical" for many ASEANcountries and northeast India.
Kovind said the Northeast region is also a corridor formany trade and connectivity initiatives such as theBangladesh-India-Nepal-Bhutan (BBIN) Initiative and the Bay ofBengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and EconomicCooperation (BIMSTEC).
The president was addressing the inaugural session of the"North-East Development Summit", a two-day event organised byIndia Foundation, a think tank with links to the BJP and theManipur government.
Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah and chief ministers ofManipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Union ministersSuresh Prabhu, K J Alphons and Jayant Sinha were present atthe occasion.
The president said that in the past three years, railwaylines have "finally come" to Arunachal Pradesh and extensivedevelopment of railway links in the Northeast is underway withan investment totalling Rs 90,000 crore.
Road building in the region is "easier than it has everbeen", he said. PTI PRGVS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.