New Delhi, Nov 26: The chief ministers of northeastern states have appealed to the Centre to open trade links with Southeast Asian countries to boost the region's economy and remove a sense of isolation and neglect felt by people there.

The Chief Ministers of Nagaland, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram - Neiphiu Rio, Tarun Gogoi, Manik Sarkar and Zoramthanga respectively - urged the Central government to define and crystallise its "Look East policy" into specific programmes and, if needed, restructure the country's foreign policy.

"The Look East policy of the Government of India needs to be better defined and crystallised into specific programmes, so that it does not remain a mere policy statement or an attractive slogan," Rio told a recent meeting here of the North-Eastern Council.

He said this would require restructuring of policies of the country, including foreign policy. As a component of the Look East policy, and to facilitate trade and cultural exchanges, the learning of Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and other oriental languages should be encouraged, and facilities created for the purpose.

Gogoi said trade links with Southeast Asia hold the key to development of trade and commerce and consequent growth of industries in the Northeast.

"To take advantage of efforts made so far for opening up the economy of the region and to take advantage of the Look East policy, we must consider the possibility of development of international access corridors with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar," he told the meeting.