Participants of the ASEAN-India Car Rally finished their long and meaningful journey yesterday in Guwahati, India. In three weeks, over thirty cars traversed land routes over 8,000 kilometers from ASEAN and India. A Flag Down Celebration of the Car Rally was held in Sarusajai Stadium Complex of Guwahati, witnessed by prominent dignitaries from ASEAN Member States and India, as well as thousands of Guwahati people. H.E. Mr. Nyan Lynn, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, attended the function on behalf of H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The Car Rally has contributed to strengthening of the sense of connectivity and friendship of ASEAN and India. It has been one of the key vehicles to promote public awareness and transport connectivity between ASEAN and India, which would help enhance trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people linkages between the two regions in the long run.
The Leaders of ASEAN and India would ceremonially close the ASEAN-India Car Rally on Friday, 21 December 2012 in New Delhi, India. The Car Rally is part of numerous commemorative activities implemented by ASEAN and India to mark their 20th anniversary of partnership this year.
The ASEAN-India Car Rally started on 26 November 2012 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This event was the 2nd edition of a similar rally held in 2004, which was launched in Guwahati, India, and ended in Batam, Indonesia.