Ongoing wars: India-ASEAN friendship crucial in times of conflicts, says PM Modi
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the friendship between India and the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is very important at a time when parts of the world were facing conflicts and tensions.
Addressing the 21st India-ASEAN Summit in Laos, he said he had announced the Act East Policy 10 years ago. In the past decade it had given new energy, direction, and momentum to the historic ties between India and the ASEAN nations, the media reported him as saying.
PM Modi, who arrived in Laos on a two-day visit to attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia Summits, and deepen engagements with them, said he believed that the 21st century, also called the Asian century, is the century of India and ASEAN nations.
Listing out the initiatives undertaken by India to enhance multilateral cooperation with countries in the ASEAN region, he said: “Last year maritime exercises for regional security and stability were started. In the last 10 years, our trade with the ASEAN region has almost doubled to over USD 130 billion. Today, India has direct flight connectivity with 7 ASEAN countries and soon direct flights will start with Brunei as well.”
“We have opened new consulates in Timor Leste. Singapore was the first country in the ASEAN region with which we established fintech connectivity and now this is being replicated in other countries as well.”
PM Modi laid out India’s human-centric approach in the development partnership with ASEAN by highlighting how 300 ASEAN students have benefitted from scholarships at the Nalanda University. “Efforts have been made to preserve shared heritage and heritage in Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Whether it is the COVID pandemic or natural disaster, we have helped each other,” he added.
India has also contributed USD 30 million to India-ASEAN Science and Technology Fund, Green Fund and Digital Fund for cooperation in several areas. India and ASEAN are neighbours, partners in the Global South and a rapidly-growing region in the world, he said.
“We are peace-loving countries, respect each other’s national integrity and sovereignty and we are committed to the bright future of our youth. Today, when there is a situation of conflict and tension in many parts of the world, the friendship, cooperation, dialogue and cooperation of India and ASEAN are very important.”
Before departing for Laos, he said in a statement: “Today, I am embarking on a two-day visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR, at the invitation of Prime Minister Mr. Sonexay Siphandone to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit.” He emphasised that this year India-Laos marked a decade of Act East Policy.
“The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. We share close cultural and civilisational ties with the region, including with Lao PDR, which are enriched by shared heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana. I look forward to my meetings with the Lao PDR leadership to further strengthen our bilateral ties. I am confident that this visit will further deepen our engagement with ASEAN countries,” he added.
The year 2024 marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy. During this decade, the engagements have grown from stronger people-to-people connections to robust cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and connectivity including fin-tech, heritage conservation and capacity building. It also marks important anniversaries of India’s diplomatic relations with several countries in the region like Brunei, Philippines and Singapore.
