“We attach great significance to all ASEAN-related mechanisms”: MEA ahead of PM Modi’s Laos visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join fellow heads of state at the ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, to assess the progress of India’s relations relations with the ASEAN nations, Ministry of External Affairs said.

Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East), Jaideep Mazumdar, emphasised that India places immense value on all ASEAN-related mechanisms and asserted that the meeting will chart the future course of the India-ASEAN relationship.

Notably, PM Modi will be visiting Laos from October 10-11, where he is set to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, being hosted by Laos, which is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Vientiane in Lao PDR, for the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Sonexay Siphandone. The visit will be over 10th and 11th October. We attach great significance to all ASEAN-related mechanisms. This will be the Prime Minister’s tenth attendance at the ASEAN-India Summit,” Mazumdar said in a briefing on Wednesday.

Highlighting the significance of the meeting, Mazumdar added, “The significance of this particular summit will be that it is the tenth anniversary of the Prime Minister’s Act East policy. The PM, along with other heads of state in the governments of ASEAN countries will review the relations progress between India and ASEAN and he will chart the future direction of our relationship.”

The MEA official further underscored the support for the theme of ‘connectivity and resilience’ and said connectivity is a very important pillar of New Delhi’s engagement with ASEAN.

“We will be expressing our support for the chair’s theme which is connectivity and resilience…Connectivity is a very important pillar of our engagement with ASEAN. As much as 20 per cent of the Indian diaspora worldwide lives in ASEAN countries,” the MEA Secy said.

He added, “We have direct flights with seven ASEAN countries. We expect that before the end of the year, we will have direct flight connectivity with two more ASEAN countries… ASEAN is among our top trade and investment partners of India…”

Speaking on the East Asia Summit, Mazumdar said that the East Asia Summit mechanism aims to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

“Moving on to the East Asia Summit, which encompasses 10 ASEAN countries and eight partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. Timor-Leste will also be a partner as an observer,” he said. “This mechanism has been in existence since 2005. And it is to build strategic trust in the region, promote peace and stability and prosperity for the region.”

He added, “In the East Asia Summit, the PM announced the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI)… We work closely with ASEAN countries on this. Three ASEAN countries — Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore and three East Asia partners — US, Australia and Japan are our partners in the IPOI.”

The MEA Secy added that the revival of Nalanda University of Bihar is also an East Asia Summit initiative. He said,

“The revival of Nalanda University is also an East Asia Summit initiative as you know that the PM inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University very recently,” Mazumdar said.

Mazumdar also informed about the bilateral meetings of PM Modi during the upcoming summit. “The PM will have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Lao PDR. We have very close, friendly, historical and civilizational relations with Lao PDR.”

Notably, the ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation.

On the other hand, the East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance.