PM stresses on security cooperation: EAS
Speaking at the 10th East Asia Summit, PM Modi stressed on security cooperation. PM defined his vision for the EAS, in terms of five elements. First of these included support for regional-architecture for security cooperation. Others included, stronger cooperation in cyber-security, outer space and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, deepen bilateral security partnerships with EAS partners, etc. Modi also reiterated the need to fight terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to Malaysia includes his attending the 13th ASEAN-India Summit on 21 Nov and East Asia Summit the next day. Modi will also hold talks with Malaysia's top leadership on ways to improve bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including defence and security. The PM is also set to address the Indian diaspora in Malaysia.
ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner and India is the sixth largest trading partner for the ten member grouping. Trade between India and ASEAN stood at $76.52 billion in 2014-15. India's exports to ASEAN were $31.81 billion and India's imports from ASEAN were $44.71 billion.
Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a 10-member group which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. India and ASEAN have 30 dialogue mechanisms including a summit and seven ministerial meetings involving external affairs, commerce, tourism, agriculture, environment, renewable energy and telecommunications. India now also has a free trade agreement for services and investments with ASEAN.
Apart from the ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit members include India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders' meetings. The 10th East Asia Summit is on Nov 21-22, 2015.
Modi will travel to Singapore for a two-day visit on 23-24 November. On day one, Modi will deliver a lecture to outline the India's Act East policy. On day two, Modi will meet Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong and address an economic convention. Besides this, six pacts are likely to be signed between both countries on strengthening partnership and cooperation in skill development.
At the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Modi pitched India as an investment destination for ASEAN nations. He said that his government had launched a second wave of economic reforms that had made India a "land of immense opportunities". Modi also said that his government's actions brought down inflation and at the same time led to higher GDP growth and foreign investment.
Addressing ASEAN-India Summit in Malaysia, PM Narendra Modi said that ASEAN members and India should explore ways to enhance cooperation at regional and international level. He sought enhanced cooperation from ASEAN through support for adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Modi also called for the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, an issue of concern for ASEAN nations
The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty, by India in 1996. It intends to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms, and safe havens. It is still pending in the UN.
