PM Modi participates in ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today participated in the ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore and underlined the need for maritime cooperation and centrality of trade for the prosperity of the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore yesterday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted about the breakfast summit today.
Twitter Post
Modi reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain: MEA spokesman
ASEAN centrality in our Act East Policy and Indo Pacific region
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 15, 2018
PM @narendramodi participated at ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit in Singapore. Reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/lxixsvi0oQ
Twitter Post
Cementing old bonds in pursuit of a glorious future: Modi
Cementing old bonds in pursuit of a glorious future.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2018
Had a great interaction with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit. We are happy that ties with ASEAN are strong and are contributing to a peaceful and prosperous planet. @ASEAN pic.twitter.com/uDL8FBnRKX
Meetings
Modi also met premiers of Singapore, Australia, and Thailand
Modi also held separate bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia, and Thailand and discussed ways to further strengthen ties in trade, defense, and security.
The Indo-Pacific region also came up during yesterday's discussion between Modi and US Vice President Mike Pence.
Modi referred to his June speech in Singapore at IISS Shangrila Dialogue in which he had outlined India's vision on Indo-Pacific.
Information
India's contribution in ensuring open Indo-Pacific is important: Mike Pence
Yesterday, Modi conveyed to Pence that his vision of Indo-Pacific was gaining acceptability and that "we should utilize the East Asia summit to further build on that". Meanwhile, Pence spoke of free and open Indo-Pacific and felt India's contribution in ensuring this would be important.
Twitter Post
Empire and aggression have no place in Indo-Pacific: Pence
We seek an Indo-Pacific in which all nations, large and small, can prosper and thrive – secure in sovereignty, confident in our values, and growing stronger together. We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific. #VPinAsia #ASEAN pic.twitter.com/X3G5MtKl0s
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 15, 2018
Commitment
India committed to strengthen engagement with ASEAN members: Modi
Mike Pence said the recent naval exercises held by the US, India, and Japan, were an "evidence of our commitment to ensuring free and open access to the seas all across this region".
Before leaving for Singapore, Modi had said in New Delhi that his participation in the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits symbolized India's "continued commitment" to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN members.
About
ASEAN: Full form, its members and other details
Singapore summit will strengthen ASEAN-Delhi partnership, said Modi.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and also other Asian states.
The members of ASEAN are Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos.