ASEAN summit: Modi pitches for convergence of approach to ensure free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific

NEW DELHI: Asean was at the core of India’s ‘act east’ policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. In his address to the 17th India-Asean summit held virtually on Thursday, he said that connectivity would improve synergies of the two sides.

“India and Asean’s strategic partnership is based on our shared rich historical, geographical and cultural heritage. Asean is the nodal centre of our ‘act east policy’ since the very beginning. There is ample closeness between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and Asean's Outlook on Indo Pacific. We firmly believe that a cohesive and responsive Asean is essential for security and growth for all in the region,” Modi said.

Speeding up physical, economic, social, digital, financial and maritime connectivity initiatives was the top priority, Modi said. “We have come very close in all these areas in the last few years. I believe that today's interaction, even if it is happening via virtual medium, will be advantageous in further reducing our differences.”


The foreign ministry had on Wednesday said that the summit would review the status of Asean-India strategic partnership and look at the progress in key sectors such as maritime cooperation, connectivity, trade and commerce, capacity building and education. India recognises connectivity in its broadest sense as the key, officials said.

Asean and India share land and maritime borders and there is a lot of scope for enhancing connectivity through land, air and sea. India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is an ongoing effort to enhance road-connectivity between the northeast and South East Asia. There is good air-connectivity between India and Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. India and Asean have been making efforts to enhance connectivity in the digital and cyber domain too.