‘The 21st century is century of India and ASEAN’: PM Modi addresses Kuala Lumpur summit virtually

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN nations, and reaffirmed that the Association of South East Asian Nations is a major pillar of India’s Act East Policy.

“The 21st century is our century, the century of India and ASEAN,” PM Modi said in his virtual address to the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, stressing the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and civilizational bonds.

He congratulated Malaysia and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and commended the Philippines for serving as the country coordinator for India.

Further, he welcomed East Timor’s inclusion as the 11th member state of the ASEAN community.

He also extended condolences on the demise of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit. He noted that India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world’s population, adding, “India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world’s population.We do not just share geography, but are also connected by strong historical ties and shared values.”

PM Modi emphasised that India and ASEAN are fellow travellers in the Global South, working together to ensure stability, growth, and prosperity.

“Even in this era of uncertainty, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has shown steady progress,” he said, adding that the strong partnership is emerging as a key foundation for global stability and development.

In his six minute long address to the summit, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s consistent support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, underscoring that cooperation between the two regions is vital for peace and prosperity across Asia.

“ASEAN is not just part of our foreign policy but a cornerstone of India’s Act East vision,” PM Modi said, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27. The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments.

Prime Minister Modi participated in all ASEAN-India Summits since 2014 (and one Commemorative Summit held in New Delhi in January 2018) except in 2022. At the 25th year Commemorative Summit in New Delhi in January 2018, the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries graced the 69th Republic Day Parade as India’s guests of honour.

Prime Minister Modi had, on Thursday, shared details of his conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Had a warm conversation with my dear friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Congratulated him on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and conveyed best wishes for the success of upcoming Summits.”

He added, “Look forward to joining the ASEAN-India Summit virtually, and to further deepening of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. Founding members include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and most recently, Timor-Leste are its members.

The ASEAN Charter provides legal status and an institutional framework for ASEAN, and it entered into force in 2008. The ASEAN Secretariat, set up in February 1976, is based in Jakarta.

Malaysia is the Chair of ASEAN for the year 2025, and the Philippines will be the Chair in 2026. India began formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” (Secretary level interaction) and subsequently as a “Dialogue Partner” in 1995.

The initial years as a Dialogue Partner (DP) entailed interaction at the Foreign Minister level, which was further upgraded to the Summit level in 2002, when the first such Summit-level meeting was held in Cambodia.At the Commemorative ASEAN-India Summit held in 2012 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations in New Delhi in 2012, India’s Dialogue Partnership was further elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

During the Commemorative ASEAN-India Summit held in 2018 to commemorate 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-India relations in New Delhi (January 2018), India and ASEAN have further agreed that india’s Strategic Partnership will be focused on building cooperation in the maritime domain.

The 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations was held in 2022, and the year was designated as ASEAN-India Friendship Year.At the 19th ASEAN-India Summit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations on November 12, 2022, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and on this occasion, the “Joint Statement on ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” was adopted. (ANI)