All 10-leaders at the recent ally completed ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit had exhorted India to play a proactive role in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated here on Friday.
In an official statement at the wrapping up ceremony of two days of diplomatic engagements that incorporated the Summit and the celebrations of the Republic Day where the ten ASEAN leaders witnessed R-day pared as Guests of Honour, Secretary in charge of eastern affairs in the MEA Preeti Saran said, “All the leaders have appreciated India’s role and the bilateral relationship that we enjoy with each one of them and that India has such a positive role in the Indo-Pacific region. They feel that India is a very important component of peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”
The official statement also complements PM Modi’s article“Shared values, common destiny” which highlighted in 27 newspapers in 10 languages in 10 ASEAN countries and said that the Indo-Pacific region will be “indispensable” India’s future. This is an op-ed article, published on Friday in leading newspapers across ASEAN countries, including the The Straits Times (Singapore), Bangkok Post (Thailand) and Manila Bulletin (Philippines), PM Modi said, “Indians have always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Growing presence
The comments from the Prime Minister and the MEA officials are noteworthy as they come just months after India joined the quadrilateral association of Australia, Japan and the U.S. to maintain freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region.