While standoff between India and China over shared borders with Bhutan continues, reports suggest that Modi government is planning to host all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 69th Republic Day next year.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while speaking at the ninth edition of India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue on Wednesday, had said that the efforts were being taken to strengthen the ties with ASEAN.

"We place ASEAN at the heart of our Act East Policy and centre of our dream of an Asian century. ASEAN and India are natural partners that share geographical, historical and civilisational ties," Sushma Swaraj had said.

"We have enhanced our engagement in South-East Asia. This was reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in 2014 at the India-ASEAN Summit in Myanmar where he declared that India's 'Look East Policy' has become 'Act East Policy'," Swaraj added.

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are the members of ASEAN.

Talking about the recently launched Goods and Services Tax, Swaraj lauded India's fast growing economy, and stressed on the areas that needs to be worked upon to build the relations between India and ASEAN.

This year marks 25 years of dialogue relationship, 15 years of summit level relations and five years of strategic partnership between India and ASEAN.

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