PM underlines ASEAN’s centrality in India’s Indo-Pacific vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the 18th ASEAN-India Summit and exchanged views on regional and global issues with ASEAN partners. Addressing a virtual meet today, the Prime Minister said that the country decided to celebrate 2022 as “India-ASEAN Friendship Year” to commemorate 30 years of ASEAN-India Partnership. “Attended the 18th ASEAN-India Summit today. Exchanged views with ASEAN partners on regional and global issues. India values its Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. To commemorate 30 years of ASEAN-India Partnership, we decided to celebrate 2022 as ‘India-ASEAN Friendship Year’,” Prime Minister tweeted.

As per the official release, the East Asia Summit is the premier leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic and geopolitical evolution of East Asia. Apart from the 10 ASEAN Member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia, the release said.

Prime Minister Modi at the 18th ASEAN-India summit underlined the bloc’s centrality in India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific and noted that partnership with the grouping is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, said Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary-East, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Speaking after the conclusion of the virtually held ASEAN-India summit, the Secretary-East said the annual summit provides an opportunity for all sides to engage at the highest level. “Speaking at the summit, PM Modi underlined ASEAN’s centrality in India’s vision of the Indo Pacific. He noted that partnership with ASEAN is a key pillar of India’s act east policy. And united and prosperous ASEAN is central for security and growth for all in the region…,” she said at a press conference.

“Over the past three decades, starting from 1992, India-ASEAN engagement has evolved into a deep, robust and multi-faceted partnership,” she added. Exchanging views on COVID-19, the PM laid stress on the need to leverage strong India-ASEAN ties in the fight against the pandemic, Riva Ganguly said.

India, being a founding member of the East Asia Summit, is committed to strengthening the East Asia Summit and making it more effective for dealing with contemporary challenges. ASEAN-India summits are held annually and provide the opportunity for India and ASEAN to engage at the highest level.

PM Modi attended the 17th ASEAN-India Summit held virtually in November last year. The latest edition will be the ninth ASEAN-India Summit to be attended by him. The year 2022 will mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations. India and ASEAN have several dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly, including a Summit, Ministerial meetings and Senior Officials’ meetings. External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar attended the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in August 2021 virtually.