Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave motivational speech during the 47th ASEAN Summit 2025 on Sunday, claiming the 21st century as India and the ASEAN region’s century. His speech came amid reports of US President Donald Trump’s presence at the venue, highlighting the increasing geopolitical pressure of the event.
PM Modi’s Speech at the 47th ASEAN Summit
The Prime Minister affirmed boldly, “The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEAN’s century.” He was sure that the combined vision of ‘ASEAN Community Vision 2045’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ will lay the foundation for a prosperous future for all of mankind. He also reiterated India’s dedication towards a collective, inclusive, and sustainable future with Southeast Asia. He brought into focus the fact that the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is still a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy.
Growing Cooperation and Strategic Relations
Modi described the fast-growing strategic, economic, and cultural relations between India and the 10-member bloc. Modi enumerated India’s continuing cooperation with ASEAN in various priority sectors, including:
- Disaster Response
- Maritime Security
- Blue Economy
In a major statement, the Prime Minister announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the ‘Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation’. This marks a new and heightened era of bilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
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