Tuesday, January 31 2006 12:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Jan 31,2006) left on a 10-day tour of Singapore, the Philippines and South Korea as part of India's efforts to provide a new impetus to its "Look East Policy'.

Kalam was seen off at the airport by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh his cabinet colleagues, three services chiefs and senior bureaucrats.

The President took Prime Minister aside and discussed 'some issue' for nearly five minutes before boarding the 737-400 Air India 'Tanjore' aircraft.

Among others present at the airport were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj, newly appointed Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Home Secretary V K Duggal and Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul.

Kalam begins his tour with a three-day visit to Singapore where the two countries would hold discussion on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement signed last year.

The President would be visiting the Philippines from February three to February six and Republic of Korea (South Korea) between February six and February nine.

Leading a high-level delegation, including Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the President will have wide-ranging discussions with Presidents and Prime Ministers of the three countries besides interacting with business leaders, intellectuals and student leaders there.