Bangladesh and Myanmar are central to India's outreach to enhancing its relations and physical connectivity with Asean countries, scholars have agreed at a two-day seminar in New Delhi.
Scholars drawn from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean and Myanmar pointed out that the role of Bangladesh and Myanmar was essential to India's Look East policy and their role in facilitating transport corridors.
It was felt that India should be more proactive and visible in its endeavour to forge a concrete partnership with Asean.
Asean Secretary General Le Luong Minh emphasised the need for Asean-India strategic partnership and urged enhanced people-to-people contact, transport linkages, and investments, along with development of communication technology, social and cultural exchanges, and sharing of knowledge and culture and education.
Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said connectivity and technology were crucial for strengthening Asean–India relations.