President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday left on a 10-day tour of Singapore, the Philippines and South Korea as part of India's efforts to provide a new impetus to its 'Look East Policy'.
Kalam was seen off at the airport by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues, chiefs of the three defence services and senior bureaucrats.
Among those present at the airport were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj, newly appointed Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Home Secretary V K Duggal and Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul.
Kalam begins his tour with a three-day visit to Singapore, where the two countries will hold discussions on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement signed last year.
The President will then be visiting the Philippines from February 3 to February 6 and Republic of Korea (South
Korea) between February 6 and February 9.
Leading a high-level delegation, including Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the President will have wide-ranging discussions with Presidents and prime ministers of the three countries, besides interacting with business leaders, intellectuals and student leaders there.