Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addresses the ‘India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Annual Summit’ via video conferencing, in New Delhi.
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India is committed to working with the ASEAN bloc towards prioritising digital inclusion and securing food security and supply chain resilience amidst global uncertainties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
“Even in these times of uncertainty, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has made steady progress. Our strong partnership is emerging as a powerful foundation for global stability and growth,” Modi said in a virtual address at the ASEAN-India Summit on Sunday.
The ASEAN Summit’s theme of `inclusivity and sustainability’ is closely followed by India and the bloc in their endeavours, the PM said. “This theme is clearly reflected in our joint efforts, whether it is digital inclusion or ensuring food security and resilient supply chains amid current global challenges. India fully supports these priorities and is committed to advancing them together,” he noted.
Key Pillar
Modi also said that the grouping is a key pillar of New Delhi’s Act East Policy. “India has always fully supported ‘ASEAN centrality’ and ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
While Modi was unable to attend the ASEAN-India Summit in person, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent him at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
The PM remarked that India had stood firmly with the ASEAN in every crisis and the two-way cooperation in the spheres of maritime security and the blue economy was growing rapidly.
“In light of this, we are declaring 2026 as the ASEAN-India year of maritime cooperation,” he said.
The two are also vigorously advancing mutual cooperation in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy and cybersecurity, Modi added. “We will continue to work together to preserve our shared cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people ties,” he said.
India is a key dialogue partner of the ten-member ASEAN that includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The two sides are trying to substantially conclude the review of their free trade agreement that India wants to be re-balanced to bridge its expanding trade deficit with the bloc.
Published on October 26, 2025