Consensus in ASEAN for summit with India?

By Amit Baruah

HANOI, JAN. 9. A ``consensus is perhaps emerging'' within the Association of South East Asian Nations for a separate summit meeting with India, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, told Indian reporters this evening as Mr. A. B. Vajpayee wrapped up his tour of Vietnam.

Mr. Vajpayee, who held talks with the Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, Mr. Le Kha Phieu, this afternoon, was informed that Vietnam supported the idea of ASEAN- India summit. ``For example, there is an Indo-E.U. (European Union) Summit. So it is only natural there should be an Indo- ASEAN summit. And Vietnam supports it,'' said Mr. Mishra.

``A consensus is perhaps emerging (within ASEAN) and in the coming months or in a year or two this may happen''. (The ASEAN informal summit in November was of the view that it was ``too early'' to consider the idea of such a summit). ``I don't think there is any hesitation on the part of India to cooperate more closely with the ASEAN. And Vietnam was of the same view,'' Mr. Mishra said.

The Prime Minister had assured Vietnamese leaders that India fully supported Hanoi's entry into the World Trade Organisation. ``They want to become members of the WTO. We have assured them full support.'' Spelling out India's interests in the region, Mr. Mishra said Mr. Vajpayee's visit had gone off well. ``It will pay both countries dividends in the future.''

Asked whether Kashmir figured in the discussions, the Principal Secretary said Mr. Le Kha Phieu had informed Mr. Vajpayee that Vietnam supported India's position on Kashmir. The Prime Minister had also raised the issue in his discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart, Mr. Phan Van Khai, yesterday.

To a question where the ASEAN fitted into the larger ``post- Pokhran'' vision, Mr. Mishra said: ``The ASEAN is a very important entity for us. Trade-wise, economic cooperation-wise... don't forget that the sea lanes here are as important to us as they are to any other country. Our trade through the sea lanes to Japan, etc. is an important factor.''

``And ASEAN, of course, is there. But I would not look at a relationship only from the angle of security or strategic concern. There is a commercial, economic and cultural content to this relationship which is important,'' he said.

Giving an example, Mr. Mishra said if India wanted to import crude from Vietnam, then ``we want security of sea lanes'' for it to reach us. Or any other contact of that kind. It is there. It's part of our... I wouldn't say security concern but part of our security strategy''.

Expanding Mr. Vajpayee's statement yesterday that Indians were being trained in jungle warfare in Vietnam, Mr. Mishra clarified that this exercise involved a few select officers and not combat troops in general. This was an agreement in principle - the officers would have to learn the language. He said the agreement was reached during the visit of the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, in March 2000, to Vietnam.

Mr. Mishra also said Vietnamese officers received training at the National Defence College in India and at the Army's Pachmarhi language training facility. There was also naval cooperation - with India ready to supply the Petia class boats to Vietnam.

Asked why Indian officers should be trained in jungle warfare in Vietnam when the Army had its own facilities back home, Mr. Mishra responded: ``Let's go back to Delhi and talk about that.''

On whether China figured in the Prime Minister's discussions with the Vietnamese leadership, Mr. Mishra said: ``Not at all''. Mr. Vajpayee's visit to Vietnam had laid the foundation for a modern relationship between the two countries - based on the traditional political understanding that was in existence, he said.

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