Guwahati: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today (Nov 22, 2004) said that the Northeast was India's 'Gateway to ASEAN' and the determining factor for greater engagement with regional groupings like ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and BIMSTEC (Bangladesh India Myanmar Singapore Thailand Economic Council).

''The development of the North East and its integration with the larger regional processes was one of the determining factors of India's engagement with regional groupings like ASEAN and BIMSTEC,'' Singh said inaugurating the First Indo-ASEAN Car Rally at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.

India's growing interaction with ASEAN is critical to fulfilling the promise of the 21st century being an Asian century with the main engines of the world economy emerging in the Asia Pacific region, he said.

''We want our Northeastern States to be in the forefront of these interactions and reap the benefits of enhanced peace and prosperity,'' Singh said.

Geographical contiguity is not merely the absence of physical distances but enables a participation exercise for building a community on prosperity based on goodwill and enterprise, the Prime Minister said.

In an era of globalisation, inter-connectivity has to be comprehensive covering all dimensions human, infrastructural, economic and cultural.

''By building such bridges of understanding and interaction, we will increase and widen the circle of prosperity and growth,'' he said.

The Prime Minister said the National Common Minimum Programme (CMP) highlighted the determination of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government to give special assistance to upgrade and expand infrastructure in the Northeast.

North East Council (NEC) will be strengthened and given adequate professional support, he said.

Adding a personal note, Singh said he felt special affinity and responsibility as an MP from the region to ensure effective implementation of these commitments.

Maintaining that India's 'Look East Policy' was initiated by the Congress Government in the early 1990s, he said considerable progress with ASEAN has been made since India was admitted as Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1992 and Full Dialogue Partner in 1995.

He said that he was looking forward to represent India at Vientiene in Lao PDR where he would ceremoniously flag-off the last leg of the rally.

''Historically we belong to an integrated region with many complementarities. Our cultural and civilisation ties run deep in time. These are being further strengthened by economic and trade links.''

Until colonialism intervened, this region was an integrated whole and with the passage of time ''we are rediscovering the essential oneness and unity that bonds our countries together''. ''The challenge before us is to put in place cooperative regional activities that will promote development and collective security for all our people,'' he said.

The Government of India has been involved in bonding trade relations with the ASEAN, the PM said.

A magnificent trade centre in Guwahati will soon be handed over to the Assam Government, he added.