ASEAN: EXPANDING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WILL PAVE WAY FOR MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE

Amid the intensified war in the West Asian region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anticipation for discussions with global leaders to ensure peace and security for all as he arrived in Laos for a two-day visit aimed at participating in the India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia summits this week.

- ANSHU JOSHI

His visit to Lao PDR comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, with Laos currently serving as the chair of the ASEAN, a significant forum for the nations from East and Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN member states include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei Darussalam. The East Asia Summit, which consists of the ten ASEAN nations along with eight partner countries namely Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the US are expected to serve as a platform to address the challenges facing peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, as highlighted by the Indian Prime Minister.

Multilateral platforms provide a good environment to the leaders from different nations to meet and work on various bilateral as well as multilateral issues. These platforms also take up various global objectives like promoting global peace and security, sustainable development and climate change containment. India understands the significance of collaborative efforts to ensure regional and global security and hence it is also strengthening its ties with Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure stability and neutrality of the Indo-Pacific region.