Asean cornerstone of India's Act East policy, says Modi

The India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) partnership lays the foundation for global stability and development in an era of uncertainties, with the two sides cooperating in areas ranging from digital inclusion and food security to resilient supply chains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

- Rezaul H Laskar

In addition to observing 2026 as the "Asean-India Year of Maritime Cooperation", the two sides are taking forward their cooperation in technology, education, tourism, health, green energy, and cyber-security, Modi said in a virtual address to the Asean-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Modi virtually attended the summit, which reviewed progress in two-way relations and discussed initiatives for strengthening the Asean-India comprehensive strategic partnership. The Indian side was represented in-person by external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

"Even in this era of uncertainties, the India-Asean Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to make steady progress. And this strong partnership of ours is emerging as a robust foundation for global stability and development," Modi said, in an apparent reference to the churn created by the trade policies of the US.

Noting that the summit's theme is "Inclusivity and Sustainability", Modi said this is reflected in joint efforts by India and Asean in spheres such as digital inclusion, food security and ensuring "resilient supply chains amid current global challenges".

"India has stood firmly with its Asean friends in every disaster. Our cooperation in HADR, maritime security and the blue economy is growing rapidly. In view of this, we are declaring 2026 as the 'Asean-India Year of Maritime Cooperation"," he said.

The 21st century is the "century of India and Asean", and the Asean Community Vision 2045 and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision will build a bright future for all of humanity.

"Alongside all of you, India is committed to working shoulder to shoulder in this direction," he said, speaking in Hindi.