Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Laos for a two-day trip to participate in the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit, with a focus on enhancing connectivity and expanding digital public infrastructure. Setting off to Laos for participation in the 21st ASEAN-India and 19th East Asia Summit. This year is significant because we celebrate ten years of our Act East Policy, which has brought considerable advantages to our country. During this visit, Narendra Modi mentioned in a post on X that there would be multiple bilateral meetings and interactions with different world leaders.
In the statement when he left, PM Narendra Modi mentioned that he will assess the advancements in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set the path for future cooperation with ASEAN leaders. The East Asia Summit will offer a chance to discuss the issues affecting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Our strong cultural and civilisational connections with the area, including Lao PDR, are enhanced by our mutual heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana. I am eager to meet with the leaders of Laos to enhance our bilateral relationship. He expressed his belief that this visit will strengthen our involvement with ASEAN nations.
Narendra Modi’s trip also marks a decade since the Act East Policy was implemented, leading to India forming connections with ASEAN’s viewpoint on the Indo-Pacific region, which has been affected by China’s actions in the South China Sea. Narendra Modi is set to also have a meeting with the recently appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who will be present at the East Asia Summit – his first trip abroad after starting his term on October 1.
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the conflict in Myanmar will also be discussed. The ASEAN has put forward a peace proposal that advocates for a ceasefire and mediation between the conflicting groups in Myanmar. During a media briefing on the prime minister’s visit, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the External Affairs Ministry, stated that the five-point consensus was a comprehensive agreement among ASEAN nations and their allies regarding the state of affairs in Myanmar.
Mazumdar stated that our stance strongly backs the five-point agreement of ASEAN. Narendra Modi will have one-on-one discussions with Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and other leaders during the two important summits in Vientiane. We place high importance on all ASEAN-related mechanisms. Mazumdar mentioned that the Prime Minister will participate in his tenth ASEAN-India Summit.
The summit in Vientiane will mark the 10th anniversary of the prime minister’s Act East policy, he said. The prime minister, along with other ASEAN Heads of State and governments, will evaluate the advancements in the India-ASEAN relations during this period. “And they will determine the path of our relationship moving forward,” stated Mazumdar.
He expressed that connectivity played a crucial role in India’s relationship with ASEAN due to the fact that 20 percent of the Indian diaspora resides in ASEAN nations. “We offer non-stop flights to seven countries within ASEAN.” Mazumdar mentioned that we anticipate to have direct flight connections with two additional ASEAN countries by the end of the year.
He mentioned that creating strong supply chains was a crucial goal for India in relation to ASEAN nations. He added that India and Laos have a strong connection in various areas, including the renovation of cultural sites, capacity building, and power projects, stemming from their close, friendly, historical, and civilisational relationship. ASEAN was established in 1967. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei Darussalam are the countries included in the list. The East Asia Summit includes 10 ASEAN nations, as well as eight additional partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States. Timor-Leste holds observer status within the EAS.