Sonowal pitches for connectivity infrastructure with ASEAN

Sonowal pitches for connectivity infrastructure with ASEAN

From a Correspondent

New Delhi, May 4: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday tabled his proposal to launch consulates of all ASEAN countries in Guwahati.

“I thank Sushma Swaraj Ji for taking personal initiative in setting up of Bangladesh and Bhutan consulates in Guwahati. To further facilitate easy movement and people-to-people contact, I urge for utmost priority in opening consulates of all ASEAN countries in Guwahati,” said Sonowal while interacting with Swaraj during the interactive session with Chief Ministers of North-eastern States on Act East Policy in New Delhi.

“I also thank Sushma Swaraj Ji for arranging this meeting and thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for placing North-east at the heart of Act East Policy,” Sonowal said.

The review meeting on Act East Policy was called by the External Affairs Ministry to highlight the importance of North-eastern States in strengthening India’s relation with the Asian countries.

Meanwhile, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar  said, “…Deepening our engagement with ASEAN countries through constructive consultation. External Affairs Minister has chaired an interactive session on ‘Act East Policy’ with the Chief Ministers of North Eastern States. This meeting also aims to integrate the views of North-east into the Act East Policy.”

Chief Ministers of all the North-eastern States were present in the meeting.

“I congratulate Sushma Swaraj Ji for convening the meeting of all Chief Ministers of the North-eastern States to discuss the Act East policy and India’s relationship with ASEAN countries,” said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

On the other hand, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is going on a two day official visit to Myanmar on May 10 and 11.

During the visit EAM will hold discussion with the Myanmar leadership on various bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They are expected to also review the progress made on the decision taken during the last visit of the Prime Minister to Myanmar in September 2017 to reinforce the bilateral relationship.

“Several key agreements covering diverse aspects of our bilateral relations are expected to be signed during this visit,” informed Kumar.

The issue of Rohingyas is also likely to figure during the talk.

“We have shared that normalcy in the Rakhine state will be restored with the return of the displaced persons and once they return to their state and that is a very important component of how normalcy can be restored. But at the same time we have also mentioned about a long term solution is the socio-economic development of the Rakhine state,” said Kumar adding, “We welcome the agreement which has been signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh for the return of displaced persons. But the details of the same will be discussed.”

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