The India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has now emerged as a robust foundation for the world to become stable and develop, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The year 2026 will be marked as the Year of India-ASEAN Cooperation in the Maritime Sector.
He added that India-ASEAN partnership has moved forward in the backdrop of 'global uncertainty.' Addressing the virtual India-ASEAN Annual Summit, Modi recommended that the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), which has been in operation for almost 15 years, be reviewed at an early date.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim added that this review process may be completed by the end of this year.
East Timor, or Timor Leste, became the official 11th member of ASEAN. East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão described membership in ASEAN as fulfilling a long national aspiration. It is the first time the ASEAN group has expanded since the 1990s.
Cambodia and Thailand signed a ceasefire pact on Sunday, which was witnessed by US President Donald Trump during his trip to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN Summit. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the agreement.
According to the deal, Thailand should release 18 Cambodian soldiers being detained, and both countries should pull heavy weapons off their common frontier. The signing comes after a past ceasefire deal recently brokered through Trump's initiative.
During the signing of the ceasefire event, President Trump applauded Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. He referred to the two leaders as capable men and hoped that the Pakistan-Afghanistan war would have its end in the near future.
Trump stated that previous US presidents had started wars but few managed to conclude them.
Trump will be visiting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea between October 31 and November 1. Trump recently hinted that he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following the summit. The two last saw each other in 2019.
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that India will stop importing oil from Russia. He added that China is also reducing its oil imports from Moscow.
Trump said he used to think bringing end to conflicts such as the India-Pakistan confrontation would be challenging but anticipated Russia-Ukraine war would end sooner. Yet he admitted that there is still depth of animosity between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Prime Minister Modi stressed ASEAN continues to be at the heart of India's Act East Policy. India has always stood with ASEAN countries in all kinds of crises.
Both countries are increasing cooperation in the domains of education, tourism, science, technology, health, green energy, and cybersecurity.
Modi announced that the 21st century will be India and ASEAN's century. He further said that the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and India's Vikasit Bharat 2047 vision will ensure a better future for humankind.
While he was arriving in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN Summit, Trump amused spectators with a spontaneous dance. Trump was received at the airport by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. When traditional dancers danced, Trump briefly participated with light dance moves, and Anwar Ibrahim joined in synchronously.
