New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 18th ASEAN-India Summit via video conferencing on Thursday. PM Modi virtually addressed the summit saying that the unity and centrality of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has always been an important priority for India.Also Read - Ahead of ASEAN-India Summit Today, PM Modi Re-affirms India's Focus on Free Indo-Pacific at East Asia Summit
Speaking at the India-ASEAN Summit 2021, PM Modi said India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook for the Indo-Pacific are the framework for their shared vision and mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Noting that 2022 will mark completion of 30 years of the India-ASEAN partnership, the prime minister said the important milestone will be celebrated as the ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’.
PM Modi also said that mutual cooperation in the Covid era will keep strengthening the India-ASEAN relations in future.
After the PM’s address, Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary-East, MEA said, “PM Modi underlined the centrality of ASEAN in India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific. He noted that partnership with ASEAN is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy.”
“The leaders of India and ASEAN have declared the year 2022 as ASEAN-India Friendship Year as it marks 30 years of ASEAN-India partnership. A series of activities will be conducted round the year to commemorate this,” she added.