New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told world leaders that India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are strengthening cross-sector and people-to-people ties. He emphasized that Delhi has always strongly supported the Indo-Pacific vision of the 11-member group.
In his virtual opening address at the summit in Malaysia, Modi said his theme of “inclusivity and sustainability” is clearly reflected in the collective efforts of nations, whether it’s digital inclusion, ensuring food security or maintaining resilient supply chains amid global challenges.
“India fully supports these priorities and is determined to pursue them together,” Modi said.
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While Modi attended the event virtually, US President Donald Trump is attending in person. In a social media post, Trump said he was on his way to Malaysia to sign the peace deal he “proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand.”
India and the US are negotiating a trade deal, but despite initial expectations, consensus still eludes them as the issues raised by the US are not limited to bilateral trade but also include India’s oil purchases from Russia.
Modi also said that India and Asean are partners in the Global South. “We are not only trade partners but also cultural partners. Asean is the cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy. India has always fully supported Asean’s centrality and Asean’s outlook in the Indo-Pacific,” the Prime Minister said.
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Regional cooperation
The Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) completed in 2019 underscores the grouping’s strategic role in regional cooperation and decision-making amid geopolitical and geostrategic shifts.
It seeks to use the possibilities of cooperation to alleviate poverty and raise the standard of living of the people, while avoiding the deepening of mistrust at a time of the rise of economic and military powers.
The document states that it is in Asean’s interest to lead the shaping of the region’s economic and security architecture.
“India and ASEAN together account for nearly one-fourth of the world’s population. We not only share geography but also share deep historical ties and shared values,” Modi said.
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Modi said that at a time of uncertainty, India-Asia’s comprehensive strategic partnership continues to make steady progress.
“And this strong partnership of ours is proving to be a robust foundation for global stability and development,” Modi said.
He said that India has stood firm in every disaster with its Asean friends.
“Our cooperation in humanitarian relief and disaster relief (HADR), maritime security and blue economy is growing rapidly. With this in mind, we declare 2026 as the year of Asia-India maritime cooperation,” Modi said.
“At the same time, we are constantly developing our cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy and cyber security. We will continue to work together to preserve our common cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people ties,” Modi added.
Ahead of the summit, Modi held a telephone conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and said he looked forward to further deepening the Asean-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
