AMN / WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Indonesia from Wednesday to attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit. The two Summits will be hosted in Jakarta by Indonesia the current Chair of ASEAN.
Briefing media in New Delhi today, Secretary (East) in Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar said, the 20th ASEAN-India Summit is special since it is the first one after the elevation of India-ASEAN relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year. He said, during the Summit, the Prime Minister will review the progress in ASEAN-India relations and provide them with further direction.
Mr Kumar said, India’s relations with ASEAN are a Central Pillar of Act-East Policy as well as India’s vision of the wider Indo-Pacific. He said, the theme of this year’s summit is ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. Mr Kumar said, given that the G20 Summit follows shortly it will be a short visit of the Prime Minister.
Secretary (East) said, India is the founding member of the East Asia Summit. He said, that during the Summit, the Prime Minister and other leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen East Asia Summit mechanism as well as exchange views on matters of regional and international interests.