In Virtual Address, Modi Reaffirms ASEAN-India Partnership as Anchor of Stability
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (October 26) said the India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the South East Asian regional body has continued to make steady progress despite global uncertainty, describing it as a “robust foundation for global stability and growth.”
Addressing the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN)-India Summit virtually, Modi reaffirmed India’s support for ASEAN centrality and the grouping’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, calling Asean a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy.
“Our strong partnership is emerging as a robust foundation for global stability and growth,” he said, adding that even amid uncertainty, cooperation between India and ASEAN has advanced consistently.
Modi’s address came as he skipped in-person participation in the ASEAN and East Asia Summits in Kuala Lumpur this week, a rare absence since he has been present at every physical gathering East Asia Summit, except one.
The Indian PM’s decision of skipping the summit meant there will not to be another opportunity for him to meet US President Donald Trump this year. Trump is attending the East Asia Summit as part of a three-nation Asia visit amid continuing trade tensions between the two countries.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Modi informed him during a phone call that he would join the meetings virtually due to the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is representing India at the summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Modi said this year’s theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability” was reflected in joint efforts to promote digital inclusion, ensure food security, and strengthen supply chain resilience. India, he said, fully supported these priorities and was committed to advancing them.
Announcing 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, Modi noted expanding collaboration in disaster relief, maritime security, and the blue economy. He said India was also deepening cooperation in education, health, science and technology, green energy, and cyber security, while continuing efforts to preserve shared cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Calling the 21st century “the century of India and ASEAN”, Modi said their shared goals, ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047, would together help build a “bright future for all humanity.”
According to official data from the Ministry of External Affairs, India’s total trade with ASEAN has grown from $5.8 billion in 1996–97 to $123.12 billion in 2024–25, up to March 2025. ASEAN accounts for about 11 percent of India’s total global trade.
Of this, India’s exports stood at $38.96 billion, while imports were US $84.16 billion, leaving a trade deficit of US $45.21 billion. The figures show that India’s trade gap with ASEAN, which was almost negligible in 1996–97 at just US $32 million, has widened sharply over time.
Both sides have been in process of reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement, but progress has been very slow.
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