Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump are likely to meet on the sidelines of the 50th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) anniversary celebrations in Manila on Monday, according to sources associated with the event.
Mr. Trump, who is visiting the region as part of his outreach to Asia, is likely to arrive in Manila on Sunday and hold meetings with regional leaders.
A meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi will be significant, as this is the first meeting since the idea of a quadrilateral grouping, involving Japan, US, Australia and India, has taken shape in recent months. Mr Trump hosted Mr Modi in the White House in June beginning their formal interaction since the former took charge in January.
Modi arrives tomorrow
Mr. Modi will be accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar among other top diplomatic and security officials in his visit to Manila. He will arrive on Sunday afternoon at the Ninoy Acquino International Airport in the city and then participate in the Special Gala Celebration in the evening. On Monday, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and then visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) at Los Banos. He is also likely to visit the Museaum of History of Ideas and Mahaveer Philippine Foundation.
The Ministry of External Affairs, in a briefing on November 10, explained that the Foundation had brought the famed “Jaipur foot”, which helps amputees start a new life with assistance from Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti of India.
Mr Modi is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and the Prime Minister of New Zealand on Tuesday. He will also be hosted by President Duterte of Philippines for a bilateral meeting on November 13.