Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Tuesday embarked on a visit to Cambodia and Laos during which he will hold talks with leadership there to strengthen ties and shore up the "below potential" bilateral trade and investment as part of India's push for an enduring partnership with ASEAN countries.
He left for the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh this morning with stepping up trade, investment, tourism and cultural linkages high on his agenda during the talks there. The visit to Laos will be the first ever by an Indian Vice President.
"Visits to Cambodia and Laos, two important growing economies, will definitely reaffirm our pursuit of an enduring partnership with countries of ASEAN region which is part of our Act East policy," Secretary East Anil Wadhwa told reporters here while briefing on Ansari's four-day visit on Monday.
The Vice-President's visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen will focus particularly on shoring up bilateral trade and investment which remains "much below potential".
"Cambodia is a growing economy that has maintained a growth rate of about seven per cent over the last several years. It is seeking greater socio-economic development. They are also a very young nation much like India and they are looking at opportunities for human resource development. We will assure them that they can count on India as a willing development partner," Wadhwa said.