New Delhi: Observing that India, the "heart of Asia", has entered the second phase of its 'Look East' policy, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today (Nov 5) said the engagement with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries have acquired "deeper meaning".

All countries are recognising the strength of India, which has made big strides in science and technology, human resource and in terms of economic development, Sinha said after launching the book 'Rediscovering Asia' authored by Prakash Nanda.

Sinha said India's engagement has intensified with Japan, China and South Korean besides Australia and New Zealand.

Recalling Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Phnom Penh last year for the first ASEAN-India Summit, he said India had suggested a free trade agreement.

Within a span of 12 months, this was readied and signed when Vajpayee went to Bali last month for the ASEAN-India Summit, he said, adding "the engagements with ASEAN have acquired deeper meaning".

With South Korea, Japan and China having own agreements with ASEAN, the Minister said, "We are on the threshold of an Asian free trade."

PTI