External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, 'Act East' and 'Neighborhood First' policies will have far-reaching effects

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that the coming together of 'Act East' and 'Neighborhood First' policies will have vast implications for India beyond the borders of Southeast Asia. 

"Once it becomes commercially viable it will create an east-west aspect with wide-ranging consequences for the continent," Jaishankar said. Not only will it build partnerships with ASEAN countries and Japan, but it will also make a real difference to the under-construction Indo-Pacific economic structure, he said.

Jaishankar said that if we can correct politics and economics, then surely we will overcome the geographical situation and write a new history. He said this vision can be successfully realized by increasing connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to improve access to ASEAN countries and beyond.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that the northeastern states can become the center of the regional economy by involving neighboring countries. He stressed on establishing better connectivity between the states of the Northeast and the neighboring countries. He said that with better connectivity, business will increase in these states and the life of the people will become easier.