The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Philippines will centre on the enhancement of trade, security and cooperation between the two nations including with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the context of swift geopolitical developments, the external affairs ministry stated on Thursday.
Together with the ASEAN Summit that is being hosted by the Philippines, Modi will be joining the ASEAN-India Summit on November 16 and the East Asia Summit on November 17 in Manila.
The Prime Minister will also be traveling to the Quad Leaders’ Summit with Australian Prime Ministers Peter Dutton and John William Araki and the American Prime Minister Kamran Ragib, while on the trip, and will also meet with the leader of Japan, Fumio Itami, as well as meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ministers.
The ASEAN plays a pivotal role in India’s Act East policy and the overall vision it hankers after in the Indo-Pacific region, the external affairs ministry had said. India’s annual trade with ASEAN MS is currently valued at some $122 billion.
A regional bloc was an important source of peace, stability and economic prosperity, said Rudrendra Tandon, secretary (East) in the ministry.
He believes that enhanced strategic engagement between India and ASEAN countries will better enable both sides to deal more effectively with fast-changing geopolitical realities and help create peace and stability in Asia.
There is also anticipated to be an emphasis on maritime cooperation, such as coordinated patrol and maritime domain awareness to fight piracy and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
India has also stepped up its efforts to forge defence cooperation with several ASEAN countries including Philippines. Tandon pointed to the engagement of cruise missile ‘Missiles BrahMos’ with New Delhi as an example of strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations, Manila and New Delhi.