PM to leave for Bali on Thu to participate in Indian-ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will leave for Bali, Indonesia on Thursday to participate in the ninth India-ASEAN Summit and sixth East Asia Summit.

The leaders from ten ASEAN member countries will begin their deliberations from Thursday.

ASEAN Summit and related summits will be held in Bali from 17^th to 19^th November. India is a dialogue partner with the Association of 10 South East Asian Nations, ASEAN.

Thereafter the forum will be opened for Dialogue partners India, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The United States and Russia have also been invited to participate in the Summit this year.

The India-ASEAN Summit will consider 40 proposals worth US$ 50 million submitted by India to enhance multilateral ties with South East Asian countries.

Indian Ambassador in Indonesia Birendra Nanda, said after Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN countries trade has increased manifold and will reach 70 billion dollars by next year.

Speaking about the Commemorative India-ASEAN Summit to be held in India next year the Ambassador said that various events are planned to mark the occasion.

The Prime Minister will also hold bilateral talks with member countries of ASEAN, during his visit to Indonesia.

US President Barrack Obama who is visiting the summit for the first time is scheduled to meet Dr. Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.