India and ASEAN: Foreign Policy Dimensions for the 21st Century

"For long, India hardly regarded the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific as priority areas despite the latterís cultural, political, economic and strategic significance. The long spell of mutual alienation understandably gave way to mutual distrust and suspicion. This dark period in Indiaís relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific was, however, brought to an end following the reshaping and reorientation of Indiaís foreign policy, manifest in the vigorous pursuit of ëLook Eastí policy since the last decade of the previous century. Positive factors such as the pursuit of ASEAN and Australiaís ëLook Westí policy coinciding with the adoption of ëLook Eastí policy by India, had already registered impressive progress in the field of economy, strategy and cultural relations between India and ASEAN. The leading specialists have critically examined the fruitful synergy in the relations between India and the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific. "