New Delhi, India - Leaders from Asean member countries are due to arrive in New Delhi today to attend the two-day Commemorative Summit beginning tomorrow to mark the 20th anniversary of the Asean-India dialogue partnership and the 10th anniversary of Asean-India Summit-level partnership:

India, the world's second most populous nation, is hosting the Asean-India Commemorative Summit at its capital New Delhi where leaders of India and Asean are expected to chart the future direction of Asean-India relations.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is expected to arrive here today and attend a plenary session, cultural show and gala dinner tomorrow. The following day, His Majesty will join other Asean and Indian leaders at a ceremonial flag-down of the Asean-India car rally.

His Majesty is also scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh at a luncheon on Friday before ending his visit.

India and Asean, yesterday, raised hopes of inking a historic free trade agreement (FTA) on services and investments during the two-day Commemorative Summit in Delhi on December 20.

"We will definitely conclude the negotiations and then we are duty-bound to report to the heads of states and heads of governments, who shall formally make the declaration on December 20," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said at a joint press conference with trade ministers of key Asean countries yesterday, The Hindu reported.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng, attended the trade ministers meeting.

At present, trade between India and Asean stood at $80 billion. Sharma said the aim was to take it to $100 billion by 2015.

Addressing the media, Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh hoped that the two-way trade would cross the $100-billion mark.

Enhancing relations with Asean has been central to India's "Look East Policy" and there has been steady progress in the Asean-India relations since the policy was initiated in early 90s. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of Asean in 1992, which was upgraded to full dialogue partnership in 1996. Since 2002, Indian has been part of annual summits with Asean.

Asean and India share the desire that the Asean-India Commemorative Summit be the culmination of a yearlong celebration of the partnership. India is planning a number of government-to-government activities and people-to-people initiatives in consultation with Asean capitals in the run up to the summit during the Commemorative year.

Two flagship events being organised as part of the commemorative year events are the Shipping Expedition of INS Sudarshini to Asean countries and the Asean-India Car Rally, 2012.

With common developmental and strategic interests along with emerging security challenges concerning both sides, India and Asean hope to take this relationship forward.

Contacts between India and Brunei have historical and cultural roots as extension of India's contacts with peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian islands. Long standing cooperation exists in many sectors including in the energy sector. India imports approximately B$600 million worth of crude oil from Brunei. Students and teachers froth both India and Brunei visit each other regularly under an exchange programme led by EdCil.

Brunei is supportive of India's `Look East' policy and expansion and deepening of cooperation with Asean.

His Majesty's visit to India in May 2008 was a high point of the relations between India and Brunei. The manner in which the leadership in India received th Sultan was taken as a demonstration of India's readiness to forge cooperation in diverse sectors ranging from agriculture to defence. Five MoU/Agreements were signed during the Sultan's visit; Bilateral Investment and Protection Agreement (BIPA); MoU on Cooperation in Information and Communication Technology; MoU on Cooperation in the fields of Culture, Arts and Sports; Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation ( Joint Trade Committee); and Renewal of the MoU on Cooperation in the Operation of the Telemetry tracking and Tele-command Station for satellite and Launch Vehicles and for Cooperation in the field of Space Research Science and Applications.

India's trade with Brunei has remained at modest levels but is growing at a faster pace. In 2010-2011, bilateral trade between both countries stood at U$130.47 million.

Meanwhile, members of the Brunei-Indian Chamber of Commerce are currently here to represent the Sultanate at the concurrently held Asean-India Business Council (AIBC) from December 18 to 20.

President of the Brunei-Indian Chamber of Commerce, Mr Nazeer Ahmed, and the President of Brunei-India Friendship Association, Pehin Orang Laila Perkasa Col (Rtd) Dato Paduka Awg Hj Mahdini Dato Paduka Hj Basiris are leading the delegation.

The delegates attended the inauguration of the second India-Asean Business Fair (IABF) and business sessions on investment opportunities in India as well as the Asean connectivity for trade and investment whilst visiting the exhibition area.

Yesterday also saw an MoU signed between Brunei oil and gas company QOS Sdn Bhd with Indian company Global Remote Integrated Access Solutions Limited in the Brunei Pavilion at the AIBC.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin