Manila, Nov. 12 -- India's trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region has reached approximately USD 122 billion, making it a major trading partner for the country, Union Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said on Thursday, underlining the importance of strengthening India's strategic and economic engagement with the regional grouping.

Speaking during a special briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Philippines, Tandon said India engages with ASEAN at multiple levels, including through meetings of heads of government, foreign ministers, senior officials and specialised sectoral dialogue mechanisms.

"Today we are trading with the entire region of approximately 122 bill...