Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ASEAN leaders will jointly review the progress in ASEAN-India relations and discuss initiatives for strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Strengthening the relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our Act East Policy and our Indo-Pacific vision,” read a statement issued by the MEA.
The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments. Earlier in the day, PM Modi stated that he is looking forward to virtually attending the 47th ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur. He also congratulated Malaysia for assuming the chairmanship of the group. PM Modi called his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, on Thursday and confirmed that he will attend the summit virtually amid the Diwali festivities in India.
The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are scheduled to take place from October 26 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Had a warm conversation with my dear friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Congratulated him on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and conveyed best wishes for the success of upcoming Summits. Look forward to joining the ASEAN-India Summit virtually, and to further deepening of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he added.