The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned from his five-days’ official visit to Singapore and Cambodia, today. The Prime Minister made the following statement before the Indian media at the conclusion of the visit:

~I have just completed a fruitful and rewarding visit to Singapore and Cambodia. The visit strengthened our multi-faceted links with both these countries and further promoted our dialogue within ASEAN.

The Singaporean leadership clearly reaffirmed the desire to intensify our bilateral interactions and to accelerate progress on the various ongoing streams of cooperation. The overwhelming response to the India-Singapore Business forum and our significant initiatives on the Economic Cooperation Agreement, the Biotechnology Park and commercialisation of R&D testify to the vibrancy of the India-Singapore relationship.

I was very happy to have the opportunity of visiting Cambodia and to renew our traditional relations with that country. It is extraordinary that for nearly half a century, an Indian Prime Minister has not visited this country with which we have such deep cultural affinities. His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Norodom Monineath were extremely gracious in hosting a lunch in my honour, taking special care to provide some delicious Indian cuisine. My discussions with Prime Minister Hun Sen and his colleagues were very warm and cordial. We agreed on a number of important cooperation ventures, which provide the framework for imparting a dynamic orientation to the traditional India-Cambodia relations, making them more relevant to the contemporary post-Cold War era. A Joint Press Statement has been issued today which details these decisions.

It was of immense personal satisfaction to me that I was able to see the spectacular Angkor Vat complex. We can be proud of India’s sterling role in restoration of Angkor Vat. It is our privilege to participate in the restoration of the magnificent Ta Prohm temple. It would be an act of recognition of our common south Asian and Southeast Asian civilisational heritage.

Both in Singapore and in Cambodia, we discussed India-ASEAN relations with a special focus on the forthcoming summit meeting in November. We will continue to remain in touch with both countries in our effort to develop a detailed agenda for the Summit.

In both countries, my delegation and I received a particularly cordial reception and the most gracious hospitality, reflecting the warmth of the bilateral relationships. In Singapore and in Cambodia, India has two trusted allies in ASEAN.~