Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vientiane from 7 - 8 September 2016 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, to attend the twin summits - 14th ASEAN-India Summit and 11th East Asia Summit. The Summits was attended by Heads of State/Government of the 10 ASEAN and 18 East Asia Summit participating countries respectively. On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi also held bilateral meetings with several leaders.
At the 14th ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister and ASEAN leaders reviewed ASEAN-India cooperation and discussed its future direction under each of the three pillars of Politico-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.
At the 11th East Asia Summit, the leaders discussed matters of regional and international interest and concern including Maritime Security, Terrorism, Non-proliferation, Irregular migration, etc. Three statements/declarations were adopted at the EAS, viz. the Vientiane Declaration on Promoting Infrastructure Development Cooperation in East Asia; an EAS Declaration on Strengthening Responses to Migrants in Crisis and Trafficking in Persons; and an EAS Statement on Non-Proliferation.
This book will take you through the highlights of the visit.
"Enhancing connectivity in all its dimensions- physical, digital, economic, institutional and cultural-is at the heart of India’s strategic partnership with ASEAN."
14th ASEAN-India Summit was held on 8 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Chaired by, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, the Summit was attended by all Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States.
India commended ASEAN Member States on the establishment of the ASEAN Community and reiterated its support for ASEAN’s efforts in the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated India’s continued support for the ASEAN Unity and Centrality in the evolving regional architecture, including India’s active participation and positive contribution to ASEAN-led mechanisms, namely the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).
"The substance of our strategic partnership covers all three major segments of ASEAN activities-security, economic and socio-cultural. And, the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-2020 has served us well in fulfilling our objectives."
"India is willing to march with ASEAN to fulfil promise & potential of our strategic engagement"
At the 11th East Asia Summit (EAS), the Leaders of ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners (China, Japan, ROK, India, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. and Russia) reviewed the cooperation over the past years, especially the implementation of the six priority areas - Finance, Education, Energy & Environment, Global health and Communication diseases, Disaster management and ASEAN Connectivity as well as the decisions and outcome documents of previous Summits, particularly the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the East Asia Summit adopted in 2015. The Leaders reiterated the importance of the EAS as a Leaders-led forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern, and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the said mechanism with a view to contributing to the promotion of peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia and the world at large.
The summit saw the adoption of a number of important documents – the Vientiane Declaration on Promoting Infrastructure Development Cooperation in East Asia, EAS Declaration on Strengthening Responses to Migrants in Crisis and Trafficking in Persons, and EAS Statement on Non-Proliferation.
"Committed to supporting realization of RCEP, India can also play important role in APEC for deepening ongoing economic integration in the region."
Speaking at the East Asia Summit, Prime Minister Modi said, “We expect that ASEAN will continue to lead & remain central to efforts aimed at greater regional integration & co-operation.” Noting Terrorism to be the most serious challenge to open & pluralistic societies he added, “Competing geo-politics, traditional & non-traditional challenges threaten peace, stability & prosperity of region.”
Outlining India's principled position on the South China Sea he said, "The Sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are the main arteries of global merchandise trade." He said that India can share experience and build partnerships for protection of marine resources, prevent environment degradation and tap blue economy and added, “Have to be mindful of common security challenges. India will organise the 2nd EAS Conference on maritime security & cooperation later this year for this”
Prime Minister Modi concluded his remarks by saying, "India will remain steadfast in shared pursuit of regional, strategic political & economic priorities within the EAS framework"
