PM Modi announces $1 million aid to Covid-19 Response Fund at ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday anunced a contribution of USD 1 million to COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and stressed on leveraging strong ties between two sides in battle against pandemic. He also pitched for convergence of approach between India and 10-nation ASEAN in ensuring a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed renewed global focus in view of China's expansionist behaviour. At a virtual summit, India and ASEAN also deliberated on situation in South China Sea and affirmed importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, safety and security in region besides ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

summit also welcomed option of a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2021-2025. new action plan if implemented will likely boost overall cooperation in various areas. In previous ASEAN-India summit in Bangkok last year, Modi h proposed a new framework called 'Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative' to create a safe and secure maritime domain in Indo-Pacific, indicating India's reiness to play a bigger role in region.

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ASEAN-India Plan of Action

In his dress, Modi also underscored importance of greater physical and digital connectivity between ASEAN and India. PM also re-iterated India's offer of USD 1 billion Line of Credit to support ASEAN connectivity, Secretary (East) in MEA Riva Ganguly Das said at an online media briefing about summit. summit took place amid China's aggressive behaviour in disputed South China Sea, Indo-Pacific region as well as in eastern Lakh.

A number of ASEAN countries have territorial disputes with China in South China Sea. secretary said discussions also covered regional and international issues of common interest and concern including South China Sea and terrorism. "Both sides ted importance of promoting a rules-based order in region including through upholding herence to international law, especially UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on Law of Sea).

" leers affirmed importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, safety and security in South China Sea in particular freedom of navigation and overflight," she said.

"re is ample closeness between India's 'Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative' and ASEAN's 'Outlook on Indo Pacific'. We firmly believe that a cohesive and responsive ASEAN is essential for security and growth for all in region," Modi said in his opening remarks.

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"Speeding up all s of connectivity initiatives between India and ASEAN - physical, ecomic, social, digital, financial, maritime - is top priority for us. We have come very close in all se areas in last few years," he said. Association of Souast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of most influential groupings in region, and India and several or countries including US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners. ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in last few years with focus being on ramping up cooperation in areas of tre and investment as well as security and defence.

In his dress, Modi said ASEAN Group is core of India's Act East Policy since very beginning. Ganguly Das said Modi ted that a cohesive, responsive and prosperous ASEAN is central to India's Indo-Pacific Vision and contributes to 'Security And Growth for All in Region (SAGAR)'. " Prime Minister underscored importance of strengning convergence between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific to ensure a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. He invited ASEAN countries to take le on various pillars of our Oceans Initiative," she said.

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On tre and investment, she said review of ASEAN-India tre in goods agreement has been long pending and ded that Modi called for an early review of pact. Ganguly Das said Prime Minister underlined importance of diversification and resilience of supply chains for post-COVID ecomic recovery. On approach by ASEAN leers on Indo-Pacific, she said y also underlined convergence between 'ASEAN Outlook' and India's approach. "Overall it was a fruitful exchange with ASEAN leers and summit was successful in bringing out convergence between two sides," official said. She said ASEAN-India strategic partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilisational ties. (with PTI inputs)

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