Media persons from ASEAN countries call on Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today told a team of journalists from ASEAN countries to take initiative to improve connectivity between Guwahati and the capital cities of their countries.

Interacting with the visiting journalists, Sonowal called upon them to take initiative to improve connectivity, especially air connectivity between Guwahati and the capital cities of the ASEAN countries and for setting up consulates of of their countries in Guwahati.

"We are next door neighbours. We have a common history which started with Chaolung Sukafa's arrival in Assam from Yunnan. Our government wants to strengthen this relationship and give it a new dimension through regular exchange of dialogue for better connectivity and trade and commerce", he said.

Sonowal told the visiting journalists that they could play a significant role in taking forward Assam government's endeavours by way of their writings and media reports and emphasised on youth and cultural exchange programmes for mutual benefit.

Stating the Act East Policy enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a major thrust to India's dialogue with the ASEAN countries keeping Assam as the nerve centre, he said India the ASEAN nations could meaningfully gain from the relationship cemented by the policy considering the rich repository of natural and human resources in the India's east.

"We must work together to grow together", Sonowal said underlining the potential which could be channelised for mutual growth.

Twenty journalists from ASEAN countries called on Sonowal as part of a familiarisation visit under the India-ASEAN Media Exchange Programme.