PM Narendra Modi attends ASEAN-India Summit at Jakarta in Indonesia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ASEAN-India Summit at Jakarta in Indonesia today morning. Prime Minister arrived in Jakarta in the wee hours today to attend the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit.

In his remarks at the 20th ASEAN-India summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, India-ASEAN partnership has reached the fourth decade and it is an honour for him to co-chair the Summit.

He congratulated Indonesian President Joko Widodo for organising the Summit. Mr Modi said, ASEAN is central pillar of India's Act East policy and ASEAN has an important place in India's Indo Pacific initiative.

He also called for amplifying the voice of the global south. The Prime Minister said, last year India-ASEAN friendship day was celebrated and gave it a form of comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said, the history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Mr Modi said, along with it, the shared values, regional integration, and the shared belief in peace, prosperity and a multipolar world also unite India and ASEAN.

The Prime Minister said, there has been consistent progress in India-ASEAN mutual cooperation in spite of atmosphere of global uncertainty.

At the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Mr Modi announced to open Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.

PM Modi will also attend East Asia Summit this morning. East Asia Summit is the foremost of the ASEAN-centered mechanisms in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in providing a platform for dialogue and discussion on matters of strategic importance to the region.

At the East Asia Summit, Prime Minister and other leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen the East Asia Summit mechanism, as well as exchange views on matters of regional and international interest.