Another step would be to strengthen promising regional bodies such as the East Asian Summit and ASEAN Plus Three.

ECONOMIST: Asia's balance of power

Analysts believe that by upgrading relations with India, Asean Delhi will provide a strategic balance to North Asia's influence, now that there is a regular summit with China, Japan and South Korea, known as Asean plus three.

BBC: Indian PM looks east for business

Every year, we have the ASEAN Summit plus the three East Asian giants -- China, Japan and Korea.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek