Jakarta is gearing up for the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to depart from Delhi today. PM Modi’s visit to Jakarta was extended as Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair, adjusted the summit schedule to accommodate his early return ahead of India’s G20 Summit on September 9-10.
The invitation for PM Modi’s visit came from the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. Both the ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) are scheduled for September 7. Indonesia, a member of the G20 ‘troika’ due to its presidency last year, made these scheduling adjustments.
The upcoming ASEAN-India Summit is significant as it marks the first summit following the elevation of India’s ties with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. The summit’s purpose is to assess the progress of India-ASEAN relations and set the course for future cooperation.
Indonesia, as this year’s ASEAN Summit chair, has chosen the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” underlining the bloc’s economic importance and relevance.
The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity for leaders of ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partners, including India, to discuss regional and global issues of significance.
In August, ASEAN-India Economic Ministers convened in Indonesia to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) signed in 2009. The joint committee agreed to a regular quarterly negotiation schedule, aiming to conclude the ASEAN-India FTA review by 2025.
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