New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari has said that India is expanding developmental support to the Southeast Asian nations in a modest way.
Returning from his 4-day visit to Cambodia and Laos, Ansari said that India has good relations with the ASEAN nations.
Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat, who was also the part of the Indian delegation, said that Indian Government is helping Cambodia and Laos in developing infrastructure to utilize their water resources and agriculture.
He added that the priority of the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government is to encourage and help smaller countries.
Round up of VP’s visit
Ansari held talks with the top leadership of the Laos and Cambodia to bolster India’s economic engagement with the ASEAN region.
Ansari, who travelled to Cambodia on the first leg of his trip, held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen following which two MoUs were signed – one on tourism and the other on “quick impact projects”.
The Vice President travelled to Siem Reap and visited Angkor Wat, the world’s largest Hindu temple complex. India has allayed Cambodian concerns over reports of building of the temple’s replica in Bihar.
He also visited the Ta Prohm temple and the Mekong-Ganga Textile museum in Siem Reap which was set up with India’s assistance.
Ansari then travelled to Laos, the first visit by an Indian Vice President to this country.
He held talks with his Laotian counterpart Bounnhang orachith following which two MoUs were signed, including one on “quick impact projects” and another on the Air Services Agreement, which allows airlines from both countries to operate direct flights between them.
The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.