He also said India is committed to supporting realisation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Advertisement
He said Asean was central to India’s Act East Policy while describing the ties with southeast Asia as a “source of harmony”.
Stating that countries have to be mindful of common security challenges, he said India would organise the second East Asia Conference on maritime security and cooperation later this year.
“In the afternoon, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India”, the White House said in its daily guidance released to the press earlier.
After the meeting, the Prime Minister of Thailand has joined a luncheon hosted by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, the current ASEAN President of 2016, to honour all heads of state and government leaders attending the ASEAN Summit.
He said China will support the building of an ASEAN community, ASEAN’s central role in regional cooperation, and its growing part to play in global and regional affairs.
He said enhancing connectivity was central to India’s partnership with ASEAN.
PM Modi said he was especially happy to be in Vientiane at a time when India and Laos are celebrating the anniversary.
The premier’s speech was echoed by ASEAN leaders, who praised the wonderful achievements the two sides have made in the past 25 years and expressed confidence for their relations in a bright future.
She noted that in 2015, China-ASEAN trade exceeded 472 billion US dollars, with more than 23 million person-times of exchange visits and over 190,000 exchange students. The ASEAN-India economic integration process has got a fillip with the creation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area in July 2015, following the entry into force of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements.
He then welcomed the USA presence in Asia Pacific, calling it “benign; positive and a plus one for all”.
India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit.
The Secretary-General is now in Lao PDR as part of a wider visit to Asia, which included visiting Singapore and China, in addition to attending the ASEAN-UN Summit and related meetings.
At the 11th EAS, the leaders will discuss matters of regional and worldwide interest and concern including maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation, irregular migration, and so on.
Advertisement
Three statements and declarations were also adopted at the EAS meeting: a declaration promoting infrastructure development cooperation in East Asia, a statement on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and a declaration on strengthening responses to migrants-in-crisis and trafficking-in-persons.
