PM Modi to attend 21st ASEAN-India Summit, 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane

New Delhi, Oct 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Vientiane, Lao PDR, on October 10-11 to participate in two key regional summits—the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit.

The visit is at the invitation of Lao PDR’s Prime Minister, H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, as Lao PDR holds the ASEAN Chairmanship this year.

The ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, as well as chart future areas of cooperation. This year is particularly significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of India’s “Act East” Policy, which has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy, strengthening India’s relations with Southeast Asian countries in areas ranging from trade and connectivity to cultural and security ties.

During the 19th East Asia Summit, a major forum for dialogue on strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific, leaders from participating nations, will discuss regional security, cooperation, and development issues. These discussions take place against the backdrop of India’s growing role in shaping the Indo-Pacific strategy.

India’s ties with Southeast Asia, rooted in civilisational and cultural connections, have evolved into healthy partnerships in key areas such as trade, investment, defence, technology, and heritage conservation. The Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several ASEAN and East Asia Summit leaders on the margins of the summits, strengthening India’s engagement with the region.

Strengthening India-ASEAN Relations

Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes at a time when India’s relations with Southeast Asia are marked by significant milestones. In 2024, India is celebrating important anniversaries of diplomatic relations with several ASEAN countries: 75 years with Indonesia and the Philippines, 60 years with Singapore, and 40 years with Brunei. Over the past decade, under the “Act East” Policy, India has not only deepened people-to-people contacts but also expanded cooperation in sectors such as fintech, defence, security, and capacity building.

Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic outreach to Southeast Asia has been particularly active this year. In the first 100 days of his third term, he welcomed the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Malaysia to India, and visited Brunei and Singapore himself. These engagements resulted in the signing of multiple MoUs and the elevation of ties, including Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Malaysia and Singapore.

Recent Milestones and Bilateral Cooperation

India has also expanded its strategic engagement with individual ASEAN member states. India-Vietnam ties were strengthened with the joint inauguration of an Army Software Park in Nha Trang in August 2024, supported by a US $5 million grant from India. India and Brunei signed an MoU on satellite and space cooperation, while Singapore and India agreed to collaborate on advanced manufacturing and semiconductor supply chains.

Under Operation Sadbhav, India provided emergency humanitarian assistance to Laos and Vietnam after Typhoon Yagi, delivering over 45 tons of aid. This initiative is part of India’s broader Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts within ASEAN.

Cultural and Civilizational Links

India’s cultural ties with the region, especially through Buddhism and the Ramayana, continue to play a vital role in diplomacy. Prime Minister Modi’s government has invested in heritage conservation projects across Southeast Asia. The Archaeological Survey of India has been actively involved in the restoration of World Heritage sites such as Vat Phou in Laos, Angkor Wat, and My Son in Vietnam.

India’s Act East Policy also focuses on promoting connectivity and economic links. Direct flights between India and Cambodia (New Delhi–Phnom Penh) commenced in June 2024, and routes between Chennai and Brunei are expected to open soon.

India’s development partnerships with Southeast Asia continue to flourish, with initiatives such as Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework, providing grassroots development in countries like Laos. Bilateral trade between India and Lao PDR reached $112.6 million in FY 2023-24, and efforts are ongoing to further strengthen economic ties, including under India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme. The External Affairs Minister visited Vientiane on 25-27 July 2024 to participate in the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conference.

As India marks a decade of its Act East Policy, its engagement with ASEAN and the East Asia Summit countries is poised to continue deepening, driving regional cooperation and integration across multiple sectors.