By Shakir Husain

New Delhi (NNN-Bernama) : India and Southeast Asian countries are seeking better air, sea and land connectivity to grow their trade and cultural links.

Officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India met here on Tuesday for a two-day forum to discuss ways to boost transport links, especially maritime cooperation.

“Connectivity between India and ASEAN and within ASEAN is a core focus area for us,” India’s Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said at the inaugural session of Delhi Dialogue, an annual gathering of Indian and Southeast Asian officials.

India is promoting its Northeastern region, which shares a 1,600-km border with Myanmar, as a “land-bridge connecting us with the larger ASEAN region.”

“We place ASEAN at the heart of our ‘Act East Policy’ and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century,” Swaraj said.

India is working on a number of road and port projects involving both ASEAN and South Asian countries.

“Development of infrastructure to enhance connectivity, both within India and in the North-Eastern region of India in particular and extension of these connectivity linkages into ASEAN is a priority for us,” Swaraj said.

With Asia’s might in the global economy rising, India sees its engagement with ASEAN as crucial for playing a wider role in the region.

“The economic and geopolitical centre of gravity of the world is shifting towards our region. India and ASEAN represent a combined population of 1.85 billion with a GDP of over US$ 3.8 trillion, creating one of the largest economic spaces in the world,” the Indian minister said.

References were also made to the South China Sea dispute while emphasising India-ASEAN cooperation in seeking regional peace and security.

“Freedom of navigation and respect for international law, notably UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) is therefore imperative in this context. Equally, we remain committed with ASEAN to enhance our maritime cooperation, to realise the full potential of our ocean economy,” Swaraj said.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said the regional grouping supports India playing a greater role in the area.

“We welcome India’s active contribution and hope it will continue to support our efforts to maintain safety, security and freedom of navigation in order to promote peace and cooperation in the South China Sea on the basis of international law,” he said.