NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday. The summit was held under the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. In his address, PM Modi highlighted the importance of ASEAN as a forum for cooperation and dialogue, and said that India is committed to strengthening its ties with ASEAN.
The ASEAN-India Summit is held annually between the leaders of India and the 10 member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) – Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The summit is a platform for discussing and promoting cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, security, and culture.
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“Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in peace, prosperity, and a multipolar world also unite us,” PM Modi told the gathering.
India and ASEAN have a long history of engagement, and their ties have grown stronger in recent years. In 2022, India and ASEAN celebrated the 30th anniversary of their dialogue partnership.
The two sides have signed a number of agreements, including a free trade agreement, a visa waiver agreement, and a maritime cooperation agreement. They have also agreed to work together on issues such as climate change, terrorism, and disaster management.
The ASEAN-India Summit is an important opportunity for the two sides to discuss their shared interests and to plan for the future of their cooperation.
In 2022, ASEAN generated a purchasing power parity (PPP) gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$10.2 trillion, constituting approximately 6.5 per cent of global GDP (PPP).
In addition to the ASEAN-India Summit, PM Modi also attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) – an annual meeting of leaders from 18 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Oceanian regions. The summit focuses on cooperation on issues of common interest, such as trade, investment, security, and climate change.
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India has been a dialogue partner of the EAS since its inception in 2005. The country has been actively involved in the summit and has contributed to its discussions and outcomes. The EAS is an important forum for India to engage with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. It provides an opportunity for India to share its views on regional issues and to promote its interests.
The participation of PM Modi in the ASEAN-India Summit and the EAS is a sign of India’s commitment to its engagement with ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region. The summits are an opportunity for India to strengthen its ties with its partners and to promote cooperation on issues of common interest.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the summits:
India and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their ties.
The two sides agreed to work together on a number of issues, including trade, investment, security, and climate change.
India also called for building a rules-based post-COVID world order and strengthening the voice of the Global South.
The EAS discussed a range of regional and global issues, including food and energy security, environment, health, and digital transformation.
The summit was significant for India as it provided a platform to engage with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region.