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Singapore asks India to 'look East'

NEW DELHI - Visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on Friday asked New Delhi to "look East" more, and emphasized that his country wanted to increase investment in India.

Goh, who arrived on a three-day trip Thursday night to become the first head of government to visit India after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government assumed office, told reporters that he was looking forward to enhancing bilateral relations during his stay here.

"I look forward to productive exchanges ... The discussions will focus on how to engage India with Singapore, ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and East Asia," he said, after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

Noting that his fifth visit to India was aimed at renewing a "personal friendship with leadership" here, Goh said Singapore wanted "more investments" to flow into this country.

"It is more important for India to look East in political and strategic terms and increase economic relations with Singapore and ASEAN," the Singaporean prime minister said, while noting that he has known Manmohan Singh for many years.

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

Jul 10, 2004

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