New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he is looking forward to discussing the future contours of India’s partnership with the leaders of the influential 10-nation bloc ‘ASEAN’ in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. In his statement before leaving for Jakarta, he described engagement with ASEAN as an “important pillar” of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed last year has brought new energy to relations between the two sides. have communicated.
Indonesia is hosting the summit as the current chair of ‘ASEAN’ (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region and has dialogue partners with India and many other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia.
Leave for Jakarta to attend ASEAN related meetings. This includes the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, which focuses on the partnership we cherish so much. I will also participate in the 18th East Asia Summit, which focuses on key developmental areas such as healthcare,…
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2023
In a post on social networking site ‘X’, the Prime Minister said, ‘Leaving to Jakarta to attend ASEAN related meetings. This includes the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, which focuses on the partnership we love so much. I will also participate in the 18th East Asia Summit, which focuses on key developmental areas such as healthcare, environment and digital innovation.
PM Modi said that he is going to Jakarta on the invitation of President Joko Widodo to participate in ASEAN related meetings. He said his first event would be the 20th ASEAN-India Summit. “I look forward to discussing with ASEAN leaders the future contours of our partnership, which has now entered its fourth decade,” he said. Engagement with ASEAN is an important pillar of India’s ‘Act East’ policy. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed last year has injected new energy into our relationship.
The Prime Minister said that after this he will participate in the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS). He said the forum provides a useful opportunity to discuss important issues in the sector including food and energy security, environment, health and digital transformation.
“I look forward to exchanging ideas with other EAS leaders on practical cooperation measures to collectively address these global challenges,” he said. Recalling his visit to ASEAN, Modi expressed confidence that the visit will deepen India’s ties with the ASEAN region.
Saurabh Kumar, secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a press conference on Tuesday that Modi will review the progress in ASEAN-India relations at the summit and give the way forward. According to him, the Prime Minister will leave Delhi on the night of September 6 and will return on the late evening of September 7.
He said that keeping in mind that the G-20 summit will be held immediately after the ASEAN summit, the Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta has been kept short.