PM leaves on first foreign tour

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left on a three-day visit to Bangkok, Thailand, to participate in the first BIMST-EC summit, which he described as an "integral part of India's 'look-east policy'."

"This is the first BIMST-EC summit. It will give a political thrust and political direction to the ongoing process of strengthening regional cooperation among countries," he told reporters before embarking on his first official trip outside the country after becoming prime minister.

"The BIMSTE-EC acts as a bridge of mutual understanding and cooperation between South and South East Asia. It is an integral part of India's look-east policy," the prime minister said in his departure statement, adding that the developmental imperatives of our north-eastern region are also an important element of India's approach to the BIMST-EC.

Singh said he looked forward to a number of meetings with the Thai leadership as well as heads of states and governments of the member countries, "all close neighbours and friends of India," on the margins of the summit. The BIMST-EC comprises Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

The Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal Economic Cooperation was set up in June 1997 to push socio-economic cooperation among Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Myanmar was admitted as a full member in December 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal were admitted in 2004.

The prime minister said the main objective of the summit was to provide political direction and impetus to regional cooperation and also to explore the possibility of moving forward on specific projects that would strengthen regional integration through better inter-connectivity among the BIMST-EC nations.

The grouping also aimed to realise the full potential of cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, technology, transportation, communication, energy, tourism and fisheries. The objective was to realise the common vision of shared prosperity and growth in our region, he said, adding that India hoped the summit discussions will be productive and result-oriented.