A direct drive from anywhere in India to Vietnam. A train line from Delhi to Hanoi. Countries sharing energy resources -- not just petroleum products, think foreign help during an electricity grid failure. Trade, financial bonding, cooperation in education, information-technology.
This is the Asian future, as is being hoped by the second East Asia Summit and the fifth India-Association of South East Asian Nations summit, for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be going to Cebu, Philippines, on Saturday.
And this was spelled out to reporters by N Ravi, secretary (east), Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday.
The fifth India-ASEAN summit, to be held on January 13 and 14, will focus on reviewing cooperation, education, IT cooperation, and on how to give Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam a leg up. And on trying to agree on a free trade agreement.
India and ASEAN have not been able to come to a decision yet on the sensitive items list that India has high tariff barriers for, to protect its agriculture sector. India has pruned its list, ASEAN is not impressed.
On the sidelines of the India-ASEAN summit, Prime Minister Singh might also have bilateral meetings with some of the leaders, Ravi said.
The 16-nation East Asia Summit will mainly focus on energy security how to use energy more efficiently, how to make it more affordable, and finding alternate energy sources. The other important themes of the East Asia Summit will include disaster management and combating bird flu.
Incidentally, India will be sharing its knowledge and expertise on stopping bird flu, Ravi said, pointing out that the other countries had acknowledged India's success against the avian influenza.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be in Cebu from Wednesday, for the ASEAN ministerial meeting and a meeting of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation of which India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are a part. The Mekong-Ganga is aimed at improving soft ties between the countries, such as creating a trans-Asian highway, promoting tourism, etc.
And Commerce Minister Kamal Nath too will be there for the ASEAN meetings, adding to the diplomatic muscle of an India which is looking east with renewed vigour and trying to put its weight behind a new Asian future.