Asian leaders have called for closer Asean-India economic cooperation and highlighted the huge potential of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, as they marked the end of a conference which celebrates the contributions of the Indian diaspora.
At the Asean-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference yesterday, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan singled out the RCEP - spearheaded by Asean and involving six of its key partners, India included - calling it a historic opportunity to set up the world's largest trade bloc.
South-east Asia and India came together on the stage, and on the plate, on the final day of the two-day event as guests tucked into a spread that melded culinary traditions and ingredients from the Asean region and watched a fine arts performance.
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