Last Updated on November 13, 2026 12:04 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two day visit to Philippines from 16th of this month. He will attend the 23rd ASEAN – India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila. Giving details about the Prime Minister’s programme, Secretary (East) in the Ministery of External Affairs, Rudrendra Tandon, told media in New Delhi that in addition to India’s active bilateral relations with all eleven ASEAN member States, India also considers its engagement with the ASEAN regional platform as a key element of the building block of its Act East Policy. Secretary (East) informed that the Prime Minister’s programme in Manila will begin with a dinner hosted by the President of Phillipines. The next day, Mr Modi will attend the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit process.
Mr Tandon added that over its nearly six decades of existence, ASEAN has achieved remarkable maturity as a regional organisation and as a platform for promoting regional economic cooperation among its member States. Mr Tandon said that today, ASEAN is capable of leveraging its inherent strengths as a collective organisation to serve as a driving force for peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region. He informed that India engages with ASEAN grouping at multiple levels, including at the highest level of Heads of Government. Mr Tandon informed that the Prime Minister’s visit is an important reflection of this engagement. Secretary (East) further added that India’s trade with the entire ASEAN region currently stands at approximately 122 billion US dollars. He said India believes that maintaining a strong strategic relationship with ASEAN member states, both collectively and individually, is beneficial to both sides.