New Delhi (VNA) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Indonesia reflects India's greater efforts to deepen bilateral relations while reinvigorating and reshaping its engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) amid increasing strategic competition in the region, said former Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Vidya Bhushan Soni.
Soni said since launching its Act East policy and, more recently, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, India has shifted from merely "looking East" to actively “acting East”, placing ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region at the centre of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The former diplomat stated that his country has increasingly strengthened ties with ASEAN partners to maintain strategic balance and expand regional cooperation.
According to Soni, defence cooperation emerged as a key outcome of Modi's visit, with Indonesia showing interest in Indian-developed defence products, including the BrahMos and Astra missiles. The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, digital infrastructure, health care and education, and Indonesia is keen to learn from India's experience in digital payments and digital infrastructure development.
He said that Indonesia holds a special position in India's strategy due to the two countries' long-standing civilisational ties. The Southeast Asian nation is also an important partner for New Delhi in enhancing economic, technological and security cooperation within ASEAN.
Earlier, Modi said his visit to Indonesia had opened up new avenues for cooperation in defence, maritime security, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and other strategic sectors, helping further deepen the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./.
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