Bhubaneswar: Diplomats, intellectuals, ambassadors from east and northeast India and south Asian countries discussed how to impart a definite momentum to business and cultural ties between the regions on the second day of Purbasa: East meets East conference.

Rajat Nag, distinguished fellow at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, pitched India's look-east policy and act-east policy to boost economic co-operations. "Importance must be given to free trade agreements for Asian countries to come closer in terms of economic ties," he said.

Sharing his thoughts on maritime connectivity and security in the Indo-Pacific region, National Maritime Foundation chairman R.K. Dhawan stressed on the need for free trade agreement. "The country's busy sea line in the Indian Ocean is witnessing over 1,20,000 ships travelling a year carrying 66 per cent of the world's oil, 15 per cent of its container traffic, 33 per cent of its cargo. About five trillion tonnes of commercial shipping and energy supplies are transported through South China Sea each year," he said.

Former Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen. Arvinder Lamba said: "India seeks to expand its geo-strategic component. The objective of the act east policy is to promote co-operation, economy, and culture through Indo-Pacific regions."

Kalinga International Fou-ndation chairman and former ambassador Lalit Mansingh said the east and the northeast should be seen as a homogeneous cultural and economic regions that play a crucial role in the act east policy.

Scholars V. Suryanarayan and Sudip Sen were conferred the Kalinga Saraswati Samman for Together in Struggle: India and Indonesia, 1945-1949, and The Pride and Glory of Bali Yatra respectively.