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Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh talked to the Vietnam News Agency about the upcoming visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to India to attend the India-ASEAN Summit and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the India-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership. The event coincides with the 69th anniversary of India’s Independence Day.
Ambassador Thanh said that for 25 years, relations between ASEAN and India have steadily expanded in politics, diplomacy, security to economics, culture, and social affairs. In 2012, the two sides established a strategic dialogue. ASEAN played a key role in India’s Look East Policy, which has been upgraded to the current Act East Policy with a greater focus on strengthening ties with Southeast Asian nations and expanding relations with Northeast Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand.
Thanh said this is the first time India has invited leaders of all 10 ASEAN member countries to the anniversary of its Republic Day. The move proves ASEAN’s important role in India's foreign policy. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will visit India as a principal guest of the celebration.
