India, ASEAN formulating plan to combat terrorism: PM

Singh said both sides have identified eight focus areas for co-operation in dealing with transnational crimes

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India and ASEAN countries were in the process of formulating a "work plan" to deal with international terrorism.

Addressing the 11th India-ASEAN Summit here, Singh said both the sides have identified eight focus areas for co-operation in dealing with transnational crimes.

"...The growing strategic content in relations between India and ASEAN responds to our shared security challenges and supplements India's deepening security cooperation with ASEAN countries bilaterally," he said.

"I am pleased that India and ASEAN have identified eight focus areas for cooperation on transnational crime and that we are in the process of formulating a work plan to combat international terrorism," the prime minister said.

The joint effort with ASEAN nations would help India in its fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, Singh said all the countries have equal stakes in the security and prosperity of "our shared Asian neighbourhood".

The global economic crisis and turmoil in different parts of the world underscore the salience of our robust partnership, he noted.

"...We seek to promote not only mutually beneficial bilateral relations, but also to work institutionally with regional partners and foster a climate that is conducive to stability, security and economic development in our region," Singh said.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are members of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).