Modi participated in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit here in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Dr. Kao Kim Horn, Secretary General of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) also participated in the summit. The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that two joint statements, one on maritime cooperation and the other on food security, were also adopted at the summit.
It said that at the summit, Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging discussions with ASEAN partners to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and determine the future direction. Prime Minister reaffirmed the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region and highlighted the synergy between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN's Perspective on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
They also stressed the need to complete the review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) in a time-bound manner. The Prime Minister presented a 12-point proposal to strengthen India-ASEAN cooperation, including connectivity, digital transformation, trade, and economic engagement, addressing contemporary challenges, people-to-people contact, and deepening the strategic partnership.
The statement said that under the proposal, India called for the establishment of a multi-modal connectivity and economic corridor linking South-East Asia-India-West Asia-Europe and India's digital public infrastructure stack with ASEAN partners. offered to share. Prime Minister Modi also announced the ASEAN-India Fund for the Digital Future, focusing on cooperation towards digital transformation and financial connectivity.
Under the 12-point resolution, the Prime Minister called for a collective fight against terrorism, financing of terrorism and cyber intelligence. As part of the resolution, they announced the renewal of support to the Economic and Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to act as a knowledge partner.
They called for the collective raising of issues facing the Global South in multilateral fora, the statement said. He invited ASEAN countries to join the Global Center for Traditional Medicine being set up by WHO in India and an India-led global people's movement to advance individual and community action to protect and preserve the environment. Called to work together on Mission LIFE.
The Prime Minister also offered to share India's experience in providing affordable and quality medicines to the people through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. He invited ASEAN countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and called for cooperation in disaster management. According to the statement, they also called for enhanced cooperation on maritime safety, security, and domain awareness. Apart from India and ASEAN leaders, Timor-Leste participated in the summit as an observer.
(PC: PIB)
