India and ASEAN have vibrant relations-PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed hope that India-ASEAN friendship in COVID era will keep strengthening relations in future and form base for goodwill between the people. Addressing the 18th ASEAN-India Summit via video conferencing on Thursday, Modi said, due to COVID-19, all had to face a lot of challenges. He said, this challenging time was also a test of India-ASEAN friendship. He said that history is witness that India and ASEAN have had vibrant relations for thousands of years. This is also reflected in our shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture, cuisine etc. And therefore, the unity and centrality of ASEAN has always been an important priority for India, he said. 

Modi said, the unity and centrality of ASEAN has always been an important priority for India. Modi underlined that the year 2022 will mark the completion of 30 years of India- ASEAN partnership and India will also complete 75 years of its independence. He also announced that India will celebrate this important milestone as ASEAN-India Friendship Year.  Modi said. India's Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN's Outlook for the Indo-Pacific are the framework for our shared vision and mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.