Swaraj to chair interactive session with northeast states' CMs

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will chair an interactive session with chief ministers of northeastern states on India's Act East Policy here tomorrow.

The meeting will further underscore Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of keeping the northeastern states at the heart of India's Act East Policy and India's ongoing engagement with ASEAN and its extended neighbourhood, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The northeast is considered to be India's gateway to Southeast Asia.

The meeting comes after India hosted the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit earlier this year.

Chief Ministers of the eight northeastern states have been invited to attend this meeting. They will be accompanied by senior officials from the states who deal with policy issues related to the subject.

Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, Niti Aayog and VK Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in the MEA, as well as secretaries from the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region, Tourism and North Eastern Council will also participate in the discussions.

"Senior officials from other relevant ministries of the Government of India, to include Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs, have also been invited to the meeting to provide a comprehensive policy view," the statement said.