Hyderabad: Congratulating Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for the 'crowning success' of his 'Look East' policy, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) on October 9 said the signing of a landmark framework agreement for rapid growth of trade and investment relations with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) community would give further fillip to the regional co-operation.

"As a result of the 'Look East' policy being pursued by NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government with single-minded focus, India's trade with ASEAN countries has rapidly increased in the last five years and it is set to double in the next five years," BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters herein Hyderabad.

Stating that successive Congress governments in the past had 'neglected' South East Asian region, resulting in India lagging behind other countries, he said, "Vajpayee understood the importance of this region for India's economic interests".

Naidu said his party was happy about Prime Minister effectively articulating the country's concerns over terrorism and the need for better regional co-operation in tackling the menace of terrorism.

The BJP, he said, was satisfied that China had corrected its 'historical mistake' and acknowledged Sikkim to be part of India. "This is yet another foreign policy achievement of the NDA government," he said.

Earlier, Naidu inaugurated a two-day 'Chintan Baithak' of the state BJP unit at a holiday resort on the city outskirts and exhorted party-men to work towards expanding the social base of the party.

The meeting, being attended by party MPs, MLAs and other leaders, will deliberate on strategies to strengthen the party.

PTI