Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN's outlook for the Indo-Pacific represent “our shared vision and framework for mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Addressing the 18th India-ASEAN summit via video, the Prime Minister said the unity and centrality of ASEAN has always been an important priority for India.
“This special role of ASEAN forms part of India's Act East Policy which is contained in our Security and Growth for All in the Region or "SAGAR” policy,” he pointed out.
Addressing the India-ASEAN Summit. https://t.co/OaQazNtC2A
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 28, 2021
PM Modi said both India and ASEAN had to deal with many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this challenging time was also the test of India-ASEAN friendship.
“In the time of Covid, our mutual cooperation, mutual sympathy, will continue to strengthen our relationship in future and will be the basis of goodwill among our people,” he added.
History is witness to the fact that India and ASEAN have had vibrant relations for thousands of years. The shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture, food and drink are visible everywhere, PM Modi pointed out.
The Prime Minister also said that the year 2022 will mark the completion of 30 years of India-ASEAN partnership and India will also complete 75 years of its independence.
“I am very glad that we will celebrate this important milestone as the Year of ASEAN-India Friendship,” he observed.
India is committed to further deepen ties with the forthcoming President Cambodia and our Country Coordinator Singapore, PM Modi added.
East Asia Summit
Prime Minister Modi had participated in the 16th East Asia Summit on Wednesday earlier via videoconference. The 16th East Asia Summit was hosted by Brunei as EAS and ASEAN Chair. It saw the participation of leaders from ASEAN countries and other EAS Participating Countries including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, USA and India. India has been an active participant of EAS. This was the Prime Minister’s 7th East Asia Summit.
In his remarks at the Summit, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of EAS as the premier leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together nations to discuss important strategic issues.
इतिहास गवाह है कि भारत और आसियान के बीच हजारों साल से जीवंत संबंध रहे हैं।
इनकी झलक हमारे साझा मूल्य, परम्पराएँ, भाषाएँ, ग्रन्थ, वास्तुकला, संस्कृति, खान-पान, दिखाते हैं।
और इसलिए आसियान की unity और centrality भारत के लिए सदैव एक महत्वपूर्ण प्राथमिकता रही है: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2021
The 16th EAS discussed important regional and international issues including Indo-Pacifc, South China Sea, UNCLOS, terrorism, and situation in Korean Peninsula and Myanmar. PM reaffirmed "ASEAN centrality” in the Indo-Pacific and highlighted the synergies between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
The EAS leaders adopted three Statements on Mental Health, Economic recovery through Tourism and Sustainable Recovery, which have been co-sponsored by India. Overall, the Summit saw a fruitful exchange of views between the Prime Minister and other EAS leaders.
Also read: India, ASEAN nations to strengthen relations over post-covid recovery, commerce and connectivity
Also read: PM Modi to address East Asia Summit – what is the meet all about?
