ASEAN Ambassadors in Assam and Nagaland to Promote ASEAN-India Car Rally

Four ASEAN Ambassadors from Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and Laos along with the Deputy Chief of Mission of Singapore paid an official visit to Assam on 15 November with an aim to promoting ASEAN-India connectivity through the ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012, a major event to celebrate the 20thanniversary of ASEAN-India dialogue partnership.

At the meeting with Shri Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam, Ambassador of Thailand to India, Pisan Manawapat, in his current capacity as Chairman of the ASEAN New Delhi Committee, said his strong delegation of ANDC came to Guwahati to show ASEAN full support to the Government of Assam on the importance of the forthcoming ASEAN-India Car Rally and the implications it brings. As ASEAN is moving steadily into an Economic Community in 2015 with freedom of movement of goods, services and peoples, and as it is finalizing the agreement with India on trade in services, and investment, this road connectivity will bring more trade, investment and tourism for northeast India, gateway for ASEAN to India.

At a press conference with the ASEAN Ambassadors present, Chief Minister Gogoi shared the same views that the ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012 will open up the North East Region to South East Asia for trade and people to people relations and it would also promote the Indian Government’s Look East Policy. The Car Rally would highlight the ever increasing proximity between India and ASEAN countries and create public awareness of India-ASEAN relations, he said.

Dr. Sumit Seth, Deputy Chief of Protocol of MEA, who accompanied the ASEAN Ambassadors to Assam, added to the press that 2012 is a landmark year for ASEAN-India relations. To mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India partnership, India is hosting the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in New Delhi on 20-21 December which all heads of state of ASEAN countries will attend. MEA in collaboration with CII will also organize the 2nd ASEAN-India Car Rally which would begin in Indonesia on November 25 and enter Assam on December 16. Flag down ceremony will be held in Guwahati the next day.

Sasirit Tangulrat