To commemorate a decade of the Act East Policy, Modi announced a series of people-centric initiatives, including a Youth Summit and Start-up Festival…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 10-point plan to bolster the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Partnership at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit to enhance connectivity and resilience.
To commemorate a decade of the Act East Policy, PM Modi announced a series of people-centric initiatives, including a Youth Summit and Start-up Festival.
“The India-ASEAN Summit was a productive one. We discussed how to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and ASEAN. We look forward to deepening trade ties, cultural linkages and cooperation in technology, connectivity and other such sectors,” PM Modi posted on X.
PM Modi’s 10-point plan to strengthen the ASEAN-India partnership also involves doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and invitation to ASEAN leaders to join ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign.
Notably, in keeping with the Chair’s theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” PM announced a 10-point plan, the Ministry of external Affairs said in a press release.
The 10-point plan includes — Celebrating the year 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism for which India would make available $5 million towards joint activities; to celebrate a decade of Act East Policy through several people centric activities including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue; to organise ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund; doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and provision of new scholarships for ASEAN students at Agricultural Universities in India.
The plan also includes the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025; enhancing Disaster Resilience for which India would make available $5 million; initiate a new Health Ministers’ track towards building Health Resilience; initiate a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue towards strengthening Digital and Cyber Resilience; workshop on Green Hydrogen; and invitation to ASEAN leaders to join ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign towards building climate resilience, the MEA stated.
Meanwhile, PM Modi also shared a post on his X about the 10-point peace plan and said, “Proposed ten suggestions which will further deepen India’s friendship with ASEAN.”
Notably, the 21st ASEAN-India Summit was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on October 10. Marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy, PM Modi joined ASEAN leaders to review the progress of ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation. This was PM’s 11th participation in the Summit.
In his address, Modi reiterated India’s support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Calling the 21st century as the Asian century, he noted that India-ASEAN ties were critical to guiding Asia’s future.
Emphasising the vibrancy of India’s Act East Policy, PM noted that in the last ten years India-ASEAN trade had doubled to over USD 130 billion.
Modi meets Blinken
Modi on Friday met the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Vientiane here. As the two leaders met, PM Modi also extended condolences on the loss of at least 14 lives in the US due to Hurricane Milton since Wednesday.
Sharing the details of PM Modi’s visit to Laos, Jaiswal said on Thursday, “PM Modi has arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. At the airport, he was received by senior ministers of the Laos government and accorded a ceremonial welcome but what was truly special was the warm and very significant, meaningful welcome that he received at the hotel.”
Modi holds talks with Albanese
Following his address at the 21st ASEAN-India summit in Vientiane on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Australian Prime Minister and members of the QUAD alliance, Anthony Albanese.
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said that he was glad to meet his friend PM Albanese on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India summit. “Glad to meet my friend, PM Albanese,” PM Modi said.
He also met and held a conversation with Prime Minister of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos, which is also one of the member nations of ASEAN.
“Had a wonderful conversation with President Bongbong Marcos of Philippines,” PM Modi said on X. Modi also interacted with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, saying that it was always a delight to interact with him.
Discussions with Japanese counterpart Ishiba
Modi met with Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, safe, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, recognising India and Japan as indispensable partners.
Notably, Prime Minister Modi is visiting Laos at the invitation of Laos’s Prime Minister, Sonexay Siphandone. He will also be participating at the 19th East Asia Summit there. His visit is significant as this year marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy.
Sharing pictures of his meeting with Ishiba, PM Modi wrote on X, “Had a very productive meeting with PM Ishiba. I’m happy to have met him just a few days after he became Japan’s PM.”
“Our talks included ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, defence and more. Boosting cultural linkages was also discussed,” the post added.
Also, PM Modi congratulated Prime Minister Ishiba on his new responsibility and wished him success in leading Japan to greater heights. He underscored that India will continue to accord the highest priority to its ties with Japan, a trusted friend and strategic partner, the MEA said in a release.
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