New Delhi [India] : Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th ASEAN-India summit underlined the bloc’s centrality in India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific and noted that partnership with the grouping is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, said Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary-East, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Speaking after the conclusion of the virtually held ASEAN-India summit, the Secretary-East said the annual summit provides an opportunity for all sides to engage at the highest level. “Speaking at the summit, PM Modi underlined ASEAN’s centrality in India’s vision of the Indo Pacific. He noted that partnership with ASEAN is a key pillar of India’s act east policy. And united and prosperous ASEAN is central for security and growth for all in the region…,” she said at a press conference. “Over the past three decades, starting from 1992, India-ASEAN engagement has evolved into a deep, robust and multi-faceted partnership,” she added. Exchanging views on COVID-19, the PM laid stress on the need to leverage strong India-ASEAN ties in the fight against the pandemic, Riva Ganguly said.
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: Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary-East, MEA
Addressing the Summit via video conferencing, PM Modi said India-ASEAN cooperation in the COVID era will keep strengthening relations in the future and form a base for goodwill between the two sides. “Due to COVID-19, all of us had to face a lot of challenges, this challenging time was also a test of the India-ASEAN friendship.” He also focussed upon the historical ties between India and ASEAN, their shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture, food and drink. “History is witness that India and ASEAN have had vibrant relations for thousands of years. Their glimpses show our shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture, food and drink. And that is why the unity and centrality of ASEAN has always been an important priority for India,” said the Prime Minister. On the occasion of 30 years of India-ASEAN partnership, PM Modi said that this important milestone will be celebrated as ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’.
PM Modi to be in Rome from Oct 29 to 31: Foreign Secretary Shringla
New Delhi [India] : Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Rome, Italy from October 29 to October 31 to attend the G20 Summit at the invitation of Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Addressing the special briefing on PM Modi’s visit to Rome, the Foreign Secretary informed that this summit will be the eighth G20 Summit attended by the Prime Minister, adding that last year’s summit hosted by Saudi Arabia was held virtually because of the COVID pandemic. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Rome, Italy from October 29 to 31. He would be in Rome to attend the G20 Summit at the invitation of Italy’s Prime Minister. This would be his eighth G20 Summit. Last year’s summit hosted by Saudi Arabia was held virtually because of the COVID pandemic,” he said today.
Focus of Italy is on recovery from the pandemic, strengthening global health governance, economic recovery and resilience, climate change and energy transition and sustainable development and food security: Harsh Shringla, Foreign Secretary pic.twitter.com/LBT04j4VMK
PM Modi is scheduled to attend the 16th edition of the G20 summit in Rome, Italy and will attend the World Leaders’ Summit of the COP26 in Glasgow after that. He is expected to pitch for collective measures to deal with the situation in Afghanistan. G20 is a global forum whose members account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent population. The theme of this G20 meet under the Italian Presidency is centred around ‘People, Planet and Prosperity.’ The summit is being attended by heads of state/government of G20 member countries, the European Union and other invited countries and international organisations
