Looking East~I
Jaishankar’s visit came at a time when the international situation looks quite uncertain and volatile, and the world is recovering from a once-in-a-century pandemic while still being subjected to continuous shocks.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said state governments of the North-eastern region were active stake-holders in India’s ‘Act East Policy’.
She was chairing an interactive session with the Chief Ministers of North-eastern states on the ‘Act East Policy’ here.
Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Niti Aayog; Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam; N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur; Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya; Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland; Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura; Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh participated in this meeting.
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The meeting followed up on an earlier conference chaired by Swaraj with the governors of the North-eastern States in November 2017.
Greater connectivity and economic integration of India’s North East with its eastern neighbours was considered a key focus area for growth and development of the region, the External Affairs Ministry said after the meeting.
India’s ‘Act East Policy’ had received a major boost following the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, which was held in New Delhi on 25 January.
The meeting deliberated on the North-eastern region’s intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood. Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.
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