Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: VNA) Terming the 21st century as Asia’s century, PM Modisaid it is necessary to build a rule-based post-COVID world order and effortsby all for human welfare.
He stressed that the common interests of India andASEAN lie in strengthening the voices of the Global South and ensuring a freeand open Indo-Pacific, and affirmed India’s readiness to collaborate with allASEAN members to realise these objectives.
The plan spans a wide range of areasincluding connectivity, digital public infrastructure (DPI), andcounter-terrorism.
It proposesthe creation of a multi-modal connectivity and an economic corridor to bridgeIndia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Europe.
As part of the plan, India pledged to share itsproficiency in DPI with ASEAN partners and launched an “ASEAN-India fund fordigital future”.
The renewal of support to the Economic ResearchInstitute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) was also announced by the Indian side.
The plan emphasises the need for a collectiveapproach to raise issues of the Global South at multilateral forums. It alsooffers to share India’s expertise in delivering affordable and qualitymedicines through the Jan-Aushadhi Kendras.
ASEAN is the central pillar of India’s Act EastPolicy, the PM said, stressing India fully supports ASEAN’s centrality and itsoutlook on the Indo-Pacific.
During the summit, Modi announced India’s decisionto open an embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste./.
VNA
