- विज्ञापन -
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Laos to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, following an invitation from his Lao counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone. The visit, taking place on October 10th and 11th, marks PM Modi’s tenth attendance at the ASEAN-India Summit.
During a special briefing on Wednesday, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the significance of India’s engagement with ASEAN through various mechanisms. He remarked that this summit is particularly notable as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Prime Minister’s “Act East” policy. The discussions will focus on reviewing the progress of India-ASEAN relations and charting future directions for cooperation.
Mazumdar emphasized that connectivity, a crucial pillar of India’s engagement with ASEAN, will be a key theme of the summit, aligning with the chair’s theme of “connectivity and resilience.” He noted that approximately 20% of the Indian diaspora resides in ASEAN countries and mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance flight connectivity with ASEAN partners.
The East Asia Summit, which includes ten ASEAN countries and eight additional partners—namely Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, and Timor-Leste as an observer—aims to foster peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with various leaders during the summit, including discussions with Prime Minister Siphandone, reflecting the longstanding friendly and civilizational ties between India and Laos.
The summits provide an essential platform for leaders to exchange views on regional issues and explore strategic partnerships, reinforcing India’s commitment to an integrated and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
