Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh speaks at the event (Source: VNA)New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh has called for accelerating overland, railway, waterway and airway connectivity between northeast India and ASEAN countries as well as facilitating Indian trade with its neighbouring countries.
He made the call during a conference on bilateral economic connectivity, the first of its kind, held in Imphal, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on April 7-9.
Thanh spoke highly of northeast India’s potential in oil and gas, hydropower, biodiversity and workforce quality, and affirmed that Vietnam welcomes and always backs India’s Act East policy.
He said if more incentives are made available, the region will draw more direct investment at home and abroad, including those from ASEAN and Vietnam in particular. It is considered India’s gateway to ASEAN.
During the 13th ASEAN – India Summit in Kuala Lumpur last November, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 1 billion USD line of credit to support physical and digital connectivity with ASEAN.
The Indian government recently embarked on several connectivity improvement projects, including the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport and the India-Myanmar-Thailand expressway.
On the occasion, Ambassador Thanh and his ASEAN counterparts toured the India-Myanmar border gate, where the Friendship Bridge connecting India’s Moreh and Myanmar’s Tamu is located.-VNA
