INDIA APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO ASEAN

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, Jan 8 (Bernama) - Seven countries among ASEAN Dialogue Partners
have appointed their ambassadors to the regional grouping, with the latest being
India with the appointment of Neelakantan Ravi, according to the Jakarta-based
ASEAN Secretariat Wednesday.

ASEAN secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan, in welcoming Ravi's appointment,
said ASEAN had enjoyed close partnership with India since 1995 when it
progressed from a sectoral dialogue partner to become full dialogue partner.

"I believe N. Ravi's appointment will further enhance ASEAN-India strategic
partnership that has since spanned the political and security, economic and
social dimensions," he said in a statement here.

In the economic realm, both parties have recently concluded negotiations on
the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and started negotiations on the Trade
in Services and Investment Agreements.

Ravi, who previously served as India's ambassador to Vietnam, is
concurrently, the Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, India.

Other Dialogue Partners which have already appointed their ambassadors to
ASEAN are United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and China.
-- BERNAMA