(VOVworld) - ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh highlighted the importance of increasing cooperation between India and ASEAN at the 6^th India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue which opened in New Delhi on Thursday. A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh attended the event.

Indian Minister of External Affairs Ssalman Khurshid. Photo: internet

The Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid stressed that the economy laid a foundation for any strategic partnership. He added that India had recently approved a free trade agreement (FTA) in trade and services and is waiting for the ASEAN countries to finalize it. He also expressed his hope that this dialogue would boost Indian-ASEAN relations.

India is currently ASEAN’s 5^th largest investor and mutual trade turnover is expected to reach 100 billion USD by 2015.