PM Narendra Modi to meet President Donald Trump tomorrow in Manila on ASEAN sidelines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the India-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit which he will be attending in Manila, Phillippines 12-14 November. Sources tell India Today that the meeting comes at a time when India has warmed up to the idea of a quadrilateral meeting with US, Japan and Australia.

Bilateral meetings with Japan and Australia are also going to take place on the sidelines of the 50th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) anniversary celebrations in Manila. He will also be hosted by President Duterte of Philippines for a bilateral meeting on November 13.

Ahead of his departure Prime Minister Modi in a statement emphasised the importance of India's foreign policy of 'act east policy'. "My participation in them symbolises India's commitment to continue deepening relationship with ASEAN Member States, in particular, and with the Indo-Pacific region, in general, within the framework of my Government's Act East Policy," the prime minister said.

PM Modi will be accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar among other officials who handle specific divisions and countries related to ASEAN and East Asia Summit.

Prime Minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit which "will boost the close cooperation to enhance trade ties with ASEAN member- states, which constitutes a significant 10.85 per cent of our overall trade", said the Prime Minister in his statement. He also said he was looking towards connecting with the Indian community in the Philippines.

On Monday, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit. He will also visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation Inc. (MPFI). "A large number of Indian scientists are working in IRRI and contributing to R&D in this field. My cabinet approved on July 12, 2017, a proposal for IRRI to set up its South Asia Regional Centre at Varanasi. This will be the first Research Centre by IRRI outside its headquarters in the Philippines," Modi said.

Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs, Preeti Saran said, "The Mahavir Philippines Foundation on the other hand is an associate centre of Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti based in Jaipur, which is the famous "Jaipur Foot." It is a non-profit philanthropic organisation, which has been set up by eminent Filipinos and Indian expat community and has distributed free "Jaipur Foot" to needy amputees. Our Prime Minister's will visit this to demonstrate our India's support to this very important charitable activity."

While there are going to be significant bilateral on the sidelines of the Summit level meetings, the Modi-Trump meeting is also crucial because it comes right after President Donald Trump's visit to China and the support that US has extended to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a move that India considers counter productive to the transparency and equality in growth of the region.