India PM to attend 18th ASEAN-India Summit

Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi will attend 18th ASEAN-India Summit to be held virtually on October 28 at the invitation of the Sultan of Brunei, informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi (Photo: AFP/VNA)

According to the ministry’s release on October 25, the summit will review the status of ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas including COVID-19 and health, trade and commerce, connectivity, and education and culture. Important regional and international developments, including post pandemic economic recovery, will also be discussed.

In addition, the Prime Minister will also attend the 16th East Asia Summit to be held virtually on October 27. India, as a founding member of the summit, is committed to strengthening and making it more effective in dealing with contemporary challenges. The summit is also an important platform for furthering practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by building upon the convergence between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI).

At the event, participating leaders will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern, including maritime security, terrorism prevention, and COVID-19 response cooperation. They are also expected to adopt declarations on mental health and economic recovery through tourism and green recovery, which are being co-sponsored by India.