PM Modi visits Laos for the 21st India-ASEAN Summit; says the 21st century belongs to India and ASEAN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Laos for the 21st India-ASEAN Summit reestablishes India’s diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian nations. With a focus on enhancing connectivity and resilience, Modi announced a comprehensive 10-point action plan aimed at fortifying the India-ASEAN partnership. This initiative not only underscores the importance of regional collaboration in a time of global uncertainty but also highlights the potential for growth within the 21st-century landscape, which PM Modi asserts ‘belongs to India and ASEAN.’ PM Modi emphasised the critical need for friendship and cooperation among India and ASEAN countries, especially as tensions rise globally, with conflicts affecting various regions. He reiterated that India-ASEAN friendship, coordination dialogue and cooperation are essential at a time when several parts of the world are facing conflicts and tensions. The summit also coincides with the review of a decade of India’s Act East Policy, which has significantly contributed to the doubling of India-ASEAN trade to over USD 130 billion in the past ten years.