NEW DELHI, Oct 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur, emphasised the urgent need for a unified global response to combat terrorism. He highlighted that terrorism remains a significant threat to peace and security, affecting nations across the world.
In a virtual address, PM Modi underscored the importance of collective action and international cooperation in addressing the root causes of terrorism. He called for strengthened mechanisms to prevent the financing of terrorism and the movement of terrorists across borders.
Prime Minister Modi also pitched for an early review of the India-ASEAN free trade pact, stating that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides is emerging as a powerful foundation for global stability in an era of uncertainties.
The prime minister also declared 2026 as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation” and reaffirmed New Delhi’s strong support to the grouping’s centrality in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness.
Modi emphasised that an “early review of the ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) can unleash the full economic potential of our relationship for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen regional cooperation”, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In his remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there has been “some real progress” in the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and that the grouping wants to conclude it by this year.
The AITIGA came into force over 15 years ago.
The ASEAN-India summit saw both sides discussing initiatives to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, especially in areas of food security, resilient supply chain, tourism and education. The two sides also unveiled a statement on sustainable tourism, noting that tourism has become one of the important drivers for economic growth for both ASEAN and India. He also extended support for implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030).
The prime minister also proposed to organise the second ASEAN-India defence ministers’ meeting and the second ASEAN-India maritime exercise for a secure maritime environment. (PTI)
