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<strong>India has once again stressed the need for early completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway – and its extension to Cambodia – to boost connectivity in the region as part of the Narendra Modi government&#39;s Act East policy.</strong></p>
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As he conveyed PM Modi&#39;s personal greetings to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Thursday, visiting External Affairs minister S Jaishankar also called for speeding up connectivity from the north east to Vietnam through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.&nbsp;<br />
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The two also flagged defence, tourism, demining, investment, and community development, as well as repairing temples during the conversation.&nbsp;</p>
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<img alt="ASEAN" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/india_cambodia_asean_meeting.webp" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" /></p>
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<em><strong>(Images courtesy: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar)<br />
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Hun Sen&#39;s office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hunsencambodia/">said</a> later that the Cambodian PM encouraged the &quot;completion of technical studies&quot; to promote the free trade agreement between the two countries and the investment protection agreement.<br />
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He also requested India to promote direct flights to Cambodia to promote tourism and take the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework to the highest level.<br />
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During his virtual meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in May this year,&nbsp; PM Modi also highlighted the historical and civilizational links between the two countries and expressed his happiness at India&#39;s involvement in the restoration of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear temples in Cambodia, which depict the cultural and linguistic connect between the two countries.&nbsp;</p>
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Another reminder of our deep cultural connect. <a href="https://t.co/epreaAPW6P">pic.twitter.com/epreaAPW6P</a></p>
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&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1555234930241576960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held a string of significant bilateral meetings, including with the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on the sidelines of ASEAN Ministerial in the Cambodian capital.</p>
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The External Affairs Minister started the day with &quot;a warm conversation&quot; with Blinken, discussing the &quot;ever-strengthening India-US relationship and the global situation&quot; before meeting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong.</p>
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<img alt="Blinken" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/blinken_jaishankar_asean.webp" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" /><br />
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After discussions with his counterparts from Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, the EAM addressed a &quot;productive&quot; ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers&#39; Meeting, an annual event that takes stock of the ASEAN-India partnership.<br />
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He stated that there is a &quot;strong convergence&quot; on Indo-Pacific, UNCLOS, &nbsp;connectivity, Covid-19, terrorism, cyber security, Ukraine, and Myanmar.<br />
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&quot;Digital, health, agriculture education, and green growth will drive our partnership. Act East unfolds steadily,&quot; he tweeted after the meeting.</p>
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<img alt="ASEAN India" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/asean_india_minister.webp" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" /><br />
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Jaishankar then met the new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, reaffirming India&#39;s commitment as a dependable friend and reliable partner, to the economic recovery and well-being of Sri Lanka.<br />
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Meeting Vietnamese Foreign Affairs Minister Bui Thanh Son next, Jaishankar emphasised maintaining the momentum of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.</p>
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<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/cambodian-pm-trusts-indian-covid-vaccine-before-departing-for-asean-meet-82636.html">Cambodian PM trusts Indian Covid-19 vaccine before departing for ASEAN meet</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>
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