Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 12 said that it is of prime importance to improve physical, economic, societal, digital, financial and maritime connections between India and Asean.
“We have come closer in these sectors in the last couple of years and I believe this summit will go further to bridge gaps,” Modi said while addressing the 17th Asean-India Summit being held in virtual format.
The prime minister said that strategic partnership of India and Asean is based on shared historical, geographical and cultural heritage.
“Asean has always been the core of our Act East Policy. There are many similarities between India’s ‘Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative’ and Asean’s ‘Outlook on Indo Pacific’,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi, along with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, co-chairs the 17th Asean-India Summit. The leaders of all 10 Asean member states are participating in the summit that is being held online.
