January 8, 2018

Ministers called on Asean and India to press on with economic integration, with Singapore's leaders plumping, in particular, for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact as a key way to do so.

Leaders also highlighted the enormous potential for greater cooperation between Asean and India, and pledged yesterday - the final day of the Asean-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference - to work more closely together.

The annual conference, which celebrates the achievements of the Indian diaspora, was held with an Asean theme this year to mark 25 years of dialogue partnership between India and the regional bloc. Singapore, the Asean chair, hosted the meeting.

"India and Asean can benefit greatly from greater economic integration and greater openness, especially with our economies and people. We need to build more bridges, not walls, between us," said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in his opening address yesterday.

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http://www.tnp.sg/news/world/calls-asean-india-press-economic-integration