Attending his third India-ASEAN summit on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that enhancement of connectivity is central policy to India’s partnership with the ASEAN.
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During the meeting, Obama also praised Modi’s vision of entrepreneurship and innovation, which he said would be “very important for a country like India”.
{image_2} Talking about non-proliferation in the region, PM Modi said India remains committed, including through membership of export control regimes and to pursuing total and verifiable elimination of weapons of mass destruction.
At the 14th ASEAN-India Summit, Mr. Modi and ASEAN Leaders will review ASEAN-India cooperation and discuss its future direction under each of the three pillars of politico-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the summit, Modi met United States President Barack Obama today.
Speaking at the regional ASEAN summit (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the PM said that other countries must combine to “isolate and sanction” Pakistan. Back then, he had said: “A single nation in South Asia is spreading agents of terror in our region”.
The highlight of President Obama and Prime Minister Modi’s dialogue, however, was the invitation Prime Minister Modi extended to President Obama to visit India after he demits office.
Modi named neither country in his speeches, but his twin attacks before top Asian leaders as well as US President Barack Obama were seen as a strategic move to send out a strong message against New Delhi’s nuclear-armed foes.
ASEAN and India also supported the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, now under negotiation at the United Nations.
The Prime Minister reemphasised India’s steadfast support to ASEAN-centric initiatives such as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration: Narrowing the Development Gap and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.
At the 11th East Asia Summit, leaders will discuss matters of regional and global interest and concerns including maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and irregular migration.
Two leaders reviewed bilateral relations which were upgraded to special strategic partnership previous year during Mr. Modi’s visit to South Korea.
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According to Swarup, during the meeting, Sisoulith appreciated India’s consistent support for Laos since the country’s independence “particularly in areas of human resources development, agriculture, irrigation and power”.
