Time to Change 'Look East Policy' to 'Act East Policy': Sushma Swaraj

HANOI, VIETNAM: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that the time has come for India to adopt an "Act East Policy" as she began her three-day visit to Vietnam during which she will hold talks with the top leadership of the Communist nation.

Mrs Swaraj said that India had adopted a "Look East Policy" under the Atal Behari Vajpayee government.

"Now it is time to not just look but act. Under the (Narendra) Modi government, we will have an Act East Policy," the Minister said addressing a gathering of the Indian community in Hanoi soon after her arrival.

Mrs Swaraj will hold bilateral meetings with her Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh today, besides calling on President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. She said that she will discuss a number of issues during her interaction.

The External Affairs Minister said that Vietnam is an important partner and expressed her satisfaction with the bilateral cooperation in security and defence.

Talking about the Lok Sabha elections, the minister emphasised that the BJP has been given a clear majority after 30 years.

Read More: Companies That Take Care of Everything You Eat and Here's What Teens Buy The Most