Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for Malaysia Sunday hoping that the first East Asia summit would articulate a collective long-term vision for shaping the regional economy.

"The first East Asia Summit would be a historic event. It would be the first ever gathering of leaders of countries that have made the region an engine of growth for the entire world economy," Indo- Asian News Service quoted the prime minister as saying.

It is the beginning of a process that brings together countries with increasing inter-linkages and growing inter-dependence. It is our expectation that the summit would articulate a collective long- term vision for shaping the regional architecture and promoting community-building, Singh said while leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

Manmohan Singh is visiting Kuala Lumpur for India's fourth summit with the 10-member ASEAN as well as the inaugural East-East summit of 16 nations that also includes Australia.

We attach great importance to our relations with ASEAN, which constitute a central element in India's 'Look East' Policy, he said.

Source: Xinhua