NEW DELHI, March 11 � In an attempt to pave the way for addressing the infrastructure-related problems, New Delhi has initiated dialogue on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Transit Transport Agreement to address soft connectivity issues.
�We have also started negotiations on an India-Myanmar-Thailand Transit Transport Agreement to address soft connectivity issues,� said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her keynote address at the inaugural session of Delhi Dialogue VII here this evening.
The two-day conference is being attended by several Chief Ministers of the north-eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland, besides senior ministers.
�Enhancing connectivity between India and ASEAN in all its aspects - physical, institutional and people-to-people, is a key strategic priority for us. Our north-eastern region is our land bridge to the ASEAN, and I am delighted that the Chief Ministers of so many states from the region have spared their valuable time to be with us this evening to contribute to our deliberations,� she said.
�We have made progress in implementing the Trilateral Highway project, which proposes to provide seamless connectivity from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Likewise, work is in progress on the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project, which will provide a road and riverine link between Myanmar and Mizoram as well as connect Indian ports to Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
�We are also looking to expand air connectivity, particularly between our North-east and Southeast Asia,� Swaraj said.
�We are simultaneously endeavouring to see how we can transform the corridors of connectivity into corridors of economic cooperation. In this context, our Prime Minister announced at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit the establishment of a Special Facility to facilitate project financing and quick implementation of connectivity projects. We are currently working out the modalities of this Special Facility,� the External Affairs Minister said.
�ASEAN lies at the core of India�s �Act East Policy� and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century. Since the launch of our �Look East Policy� in the early 1990s, we have matured from being Sectoral Dialogue Partners to being Strategic Partners,� she said.
Earlier in the morning Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs Anil Wadhwa underlined the need for an approach that seeks to realise the ASEAN-India vision for partnership and prosperity in an integrated, inclusive and multimodal manner for the mutual interest and sustainability of the partnership in the long term.
�Our growing relations with ASEAN and the larger Asia-Pacific neighbourhood had the potential of bringing about a significant positive developmental impact on India�s north-eastern region as well. Being the land bridge to ASEAN, the North-east was a natural partner in India�s �Act East Policy�, especially with respect to the connectivity agenda,� he said.
Addressing the event, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said policy measures, which the Government of India would undertake, should include re-opening of the historic Stilwell Road.
Tuki demanded that two roads, Indo-Bhutan via Tawang and Indo-Myanmar through Pangsau Pass on the historic Stilwell Road should be reopened.
