Calls conclusion of negotiations on FTA a milestone

After tying up the loose ends of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) just before the start of the first-ever India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit on Indian soil on Thursday, New Delhi sought a deeper engagement with the 10-country bloc in political and security-related areas. Speaking at the plenary session here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed the conclusion of negotiations on an FTA that encompassed investment and services besides goods (which was inked in 2009) a “valuable milestone,” but felt the upgrade of India’s dialogue partner status to strategic partnership should lead to deeper engagements in the political and economic spheres.