Asean engagement: Swaraj to embark on three-nation tour
NEWDELHI: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake a three-nation tour to Southeast Asia ahead of a commemorative summit between India and 10 Southeast Asian countries this month.
Swaraj will visit Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore from January 4-8. In her first foreign trip this year, she will be in Thailand on January 4 and 5, where she will hold a meeting with Thai minister of foreign affairs, Don Pramudwinai.
“All aspects of bilateral relations with Thailand will be discussed, with particular focus on political, defence and economic ties and on further enhancing India’s engagement with Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries,” the ministry said in a statement. Thailand will be the coordinator country for the India-asean summit this year.
During her Indonesia visit from January 5-6, Swaraj will co-chair the fifth meeting of the India-indonesia Joint Commission with her Indonesian coun- terpart, Retno Marsudi.
The ministers will also inaugurate the second meeting of the Asean-india Network of Think Tanks. She will also call on Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
Swaraj will also meet the new secretary general of Asean, Lim Jock Hoi. “As the biggest country in the Asean region with the largest economy, Indonesia is an important partner for India, including in trade and strategic matters. In recent times, there has been intensive engagement between the two countries bilaterally as well as plurilaterally,” said the statement.
Swaraj will visit Singapore from January 6-8, where she will inaugurate the Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) of Asean countries on January 7.