Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it was an honour for him to co-chair the ASEAN Summit being held in Indonesia. "Our partnership has reached the fourth decade. It is an honour for me to co-chair this Summit. I want to congratulate Indonesian President Joko Widodo for organising this Summit," he said while addressing the Summit in Indonesia's Jakarta. "Last year we celebrated the India-ASEAN friendship day & gave it a form of comprehensive strategic partnership," he added.
Underlining the significance of the grouping, PM Modi said, "This year's theme is ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. ASEAN matters because here everyone's voice is heard & ASEAN is epicentrum of growth because ASEAN plays an important role in global growth."
"Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in peace, prosperity and a multipolar world also unite us. ASEAN is the central pillar of India's Act East Policy. India supports ASEAN's outlook on ASEAN-India centrality and Indo-pacific," he added.
"The ASEAN-India Summit is a testament to our shared vision and collaboration for a better future. We look forward to working together in futuristic sectors which will enhance human progress," he later posted on X.
On Thursday morning, Modi arrived in Indonesia's Jakarta to attend the ASEAN-India and the East Asia summits.
"Landed in Jakarta. Looking forward to the ASEAN related meetings and to working with various leaders for making a better planet," he posted on social media platform X.
In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said that the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the ASEAN has injected new dynamism into the group's ties with New Delhi. "Engagement with ASEAN is an important pillar of India's 'Act East' policy," he said, as per a PTI report.
PM Modi will immediately return to Delhi after attending the summits as the country gears up to host the 18th G20 Summit on September 9 and 10.