Asean, Singapore at centre of India's Act East policy: Modi

LAYING a broad roadmap of India's foreign policy and engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on Monday that as his country engages with the Asia under its Act East policy, the Asean region in general and Singapore in particular is "at the centre" of this policy.

The leader of Asia's third largest economy, who is in Singapore on a whirlwind two-day tour, was delivering the prestigious 37th Singapore Lecture organised by the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute. The subject of his lecture was India's Singapore story.

While giving a broad overview of the Act East policy, which he set in motion to build upon the earlier Look East policy after he came to power one and a half years ago, the Indian prime minister was fulsome in his praise for Singapore.

Reiterating both India's as well as his close personal ties with the Republic, PM Modi said few nations in the world can celebrate its first 50 years of existence with the sense of pride and satisfaction that Singapore can and deserves to.

He noted that Singapore teaches India (and other nations) many things. The size of a nation is no barrier to the scale of its achievements. The lack of resources is no constraint to innovation and inspiration, Mr Modi said.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attended the lecture along with more than 1,000 guests comprising diplomats, government officials, education institutions and delegates from India.

Mr Modi last visited Singapore in March this year to attend the State Funeral Service of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.