Red carpet rolled out for ASEAN Car Rally; CM hardsells Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 15 2012:
With the State Government rolling out the red carpet for the ASEAN-India Car Rally, first at Moreh and then at Kangla, Chief Minister O Ibobi took the opportunity to highlight Manipur as a tourist destination and extended an invitation to all the participants to take part in the next State Sangai Festival.
Highlighting the ethnic and cultural similarities between the country members of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Manipur, Ibobi recalled the initiatives taken up by the Government of India to open its doors to its eastern neighbours under the Look East Policy.
Extending a warm welcome to the participants, the Chief Minister said that the second ASEAN-India Car Rally is part of the initiatives taken up to improve relations with the member countries of ASEAN.
Recalling the past, the Chief Minister said that India took part in the sectoral dialogue of ASEAN in 1992 and added that from 2000, the ASEAN-India Summit has been an annual affair.
Before the reception function at Kangla, the cavalcade entered India from Myanmar through Moreh in the morning today where they were received by Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Parliamentary Secretary K Meghachandra and MLA of Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency DK Korunthang.
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As the 116 participants, in 31 vehicles, including a medical team trundled into Moreh, a warm reception was accorded to them and breakfast was hosted by the State.
After a quick breakfast, the rally headed towards Imphal, where a reception function was organised at Kangla, with the Chief Minister leading the way in welcoming the rally.
Mementoes of the State emblem, the Kanglasha and a booklet, Manipur At A Glance, published by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations were gifted to each of the participants.
On arrival, the State Government hosted a lunch for the participants at Hotel Imphal.
A cultural programme was later held at Kangla for the participants, after which it was flagged off for the Kohima leg by the Chief Minister at 3.15 pm.
Apart from the Council of Ministers including Deputy Minister Gaikhangam and Speaker of the Assembly Th Lokeshore, a host of civil and top ranking police officials turned up at Kangla to accord the rally a warm welcome.
Participated by 10 country members of ASEAN, the rally was ceremonially flagged off from Singapore with the car rally starting from Indonesia.
The rally reached Imphal after covering a distance of 7000 kms stretching over 21 days.
The rally gains significance in the backdrop of the vigour with which India has taken up the Look East Policy and with the major changes that have taken place in neighbouring Myanmar.
The rally passed through Manipur without a hitch, with the Kuki State Demand Committee rolling back its decision to boycott the same, following the written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs that a political dialogue with the SoO signatories would start after the Winter session of Parliament.