26.4.14

India's first ASEAN envoy

Signalling a sharper interest in Asean, India has finally appointed its first dedicated ambassador to the region.
After a successful stint in Iraq, Suresh Reddy will be in charge of India’s ties with the East Asia Summit and the 10-nation grouping.
While India has focused on Asean for the past couple of decades, its waffling presence and a refusal to clarify its stand on crucial issues important for Asean have created the impression that it is not a power to be depended on.
However, in the past couple of years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has personally spearheaded India’s outreach to southeast and east Asia. At the heart of this India’s Asean initiative is connectivity and trade.

No comments: