Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Jakarta comes as a special invitation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, setting the stage for India’s hosting of the G20 Summit on September 9-10. The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Indonesia on Wednesday evening and return to New Delhi on the evening of September 7.
During his visit, Modi will fly to the Indonesian capital to participate in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit. Indonesia, currently holding the ASEAN chairmanship, is hosting these meetings, where India and several other nations, including the United States, China, Japan, and Australia, engage in discussions. ASEAN is recognized as one of the most influential regional groups. Modi’s interactions with ASEAN leaders are expected to focus on bolstering India’s trade and security partnerships within the group.
This year’s ASEAN Summit carries the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” aligning with Indonesia’s vision of the community as a significant hub of economic growth. According to ANI, these sessions offer India and its Southeast Asian counterparts an opportunity to evaluate each other’s progress and plan future areas of collaboration. Notably, the 20th ASEAN-India Summit marks the first gathering of its kind since the two nations elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, signifying enhanced cooperation across various domains, from security to trade.
The East Asia Summit is equally significant, providing India a platform to discuss regional and international issues alongside eight other dialogue partners and ASEAN member states. This serves as a crucial forum for multilateral dialogue, essential for maintaining stability and promoting cooperation in the Asian region.
The primary objective of this visit is to advance economic cooperation. In August, the ASEAN-India Economic Ministers convened in Indonesia, with a primary focus on expeditiously reviewing the 2009-signed ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. Both sides have committed to a quarterly negotiation schedule with the aim of completing a comprehensive revision of the trade agreement by 2025.
