ASEAN urges India to resolve outstanding cooperation issues

PHNOM PENH: ASEAN leaders have urged Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to resolve several outstanding issues which would help strengthen the grouping's economic ties with India.

The first issue raised was the uncompleted Investment and Services chapters of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he believed the FTA was a mutually beneficial agreement and completing it would help both sides overcome the weak global economy.

However, he noted that progress was slow and urged ASEAN and India to re-double efforts and conclude talks by the Commemorative Summit next month.

He also added that concluding the ASEAN-India FTA would pave the way for India to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations.

The second issued raised was the unresolved ASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement (AIATA).

Mr Lee said that the AIATA would bring businesses and tourists closer together and would help to fulfil the ASEAN-India Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Tourism which was signed in January 2012.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Premier said that he was looking forward to the 20th Anniversary celebrations in New Delhi to commemorate ASEAN's close ties with India.

He added that the celebrations would also be an opportunity to discuss and chart the future direction of ASEAN-India relations.

Sourced: channelnewsasia