Modi At ASEAN: PM Announces Decision To Open Indian Embassy In Timor Leste

The Prime Minister made the announcement to open an Indian embassy in Timor-Leste while co-chairing the annual ASEAN-India summit in this Indonesian capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ( Image Source :YouTube/BJP )

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a decision to open an Indian embassy in Timor-Leste. The Prime Minister made the announcement while co-chairing the annual ASEAN-India summit in this Indonesian capital. At the ASEAN-India summit, the prime minister announced the decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"The decision is a reflection of the importance India attaches to ASEAN, and its relations with Timor Leste," it said. The MEA said the decision was warmly welcomed by Timor Leste and ASEAN member nations.

Timor Leste joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022 as an Observer, before becoming its full member. ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.

Necessary To Build Rules-Based Post-Covid World: PM Modi Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the importance of building a rules-based-post-Covid world order, adding that the progress of a free and open Indo-Pacific and elevating the voice of the Global South is in the common interest of all. Addressing the annual ASEAN-India Summit in Indonesia’s Jakarta, the Prime Minister described the 10-nation bloc as the epicentre of growth as the region plays a crucial role in global development. The grouping plays a prominent place in India's Indo-Pacific initiative and that New Delhi is committed to working "shoulder to shoulder" with it, he added. 

"The 21st century is Asia's century. It is our century. For this, it is necessary to build a rule-based post-COVID world order and efforts by all for human welfare," the prime minister, co-chairing the summit, said, as per a PTI report. "The progress of free and open Indo-Pacific and elevating the voice of the Global South is in the common interest of all," he added.

In his address, Modi assured that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the central pillar of India's Act East Policy and it fully supports ASEAN centrality and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

The 10-nation ASEAN group — including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia — is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region. India, and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.