PM Modi’s Southeast Asia tour extends ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Indonesia (May 29-31), Malaysia (May 31) and Singapore (May 31-June 2), three strategic partner nations that are also members of the ASEAN bloc

June 3, 2018

The visit came at the invitation of Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia and Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, respectively, after the leaders visited India during the 69th Republic Day celebrations in January 2018

PM Modi made a brief stopover in Malaysia to meet the newly elected PM, Mahathir Mohamad; Meanwhile, official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings, meetings with business and Indian communities

Prime Minister’s latest visit will help further boost Government of India’s “Act East” policy that is aimed at increasing people to people contact, trade ties and intergovernmental relations in the country’s extended neighbourhood

PM Modi’s first state visit to Indonesia saw the two nations adopting a "Shared Vision on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”; In Singapore, PM Modi addressed a business, innovation and community event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Indonesia (May 29-31), Malaysia (May 31) and Singapore (May 31-June 2), three strategic partner nations that are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. The visit came at the invitation of Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia and Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, respectively, after the leaders visited India during the 69th Republic Day celebrations in January 2018. During the visit, PM Modi made a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to meet the newly elected Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. PM Modi’s official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership, delegation level talks, meetings with the business as well as Indian communities. In Singapore, PM Modi delivered the keynote address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue.

The latest visit will help further boost Government of India’s “Act East” policy that is aimed at increasing people to people contact, trade ties and intergovernmental relations in the country’s extended neighbourhood. PM Modi’s first state visit to Indonesia saw the two nations adopting a “Shared Vision on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.”The two countries aim to develop further cooperation in maritime sector which can be a force of stability in the region. During the visit, PM Modi and President Widodo also interacted with members of the Indonesia–India CEO Forum. The two nations have recorded growing convergence in political, strategic, defence, security, energy and economic fields, while bilateral relationship acquired a new momentum following the state visit of President Widodo in December 2016. The nations now plan to organize annual summit meetings.

In Singapore, PM Modi called on the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, and had a bilateral meeting with PM Lee.During his stay, PM Modi addressed a business, innovation and community event “India and Singapore: Stepping into the Future – Partnership for Enterprise and Innovation.” He also visited the Nanyang Technological University, Indian Heritage Centre, Changi Naval Base and other sites highlighting cultural and people to people links between India and Singapore. Bilateral relationship between Singapore and India has improved since the signing of the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership in 2015 during PM Modi’s previous official visit. These interactions have helped strengthen all-round cooperation, including in areas of strategic and security cooperation, economic relations, technology and innovation partnership, and cultural links.

PM Modi delivered the keynote address at the 2018 International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed existing cooperation in Smart Cities and urban solutions, both bilaterally and to support the development of ASEAN Smart Cities Network. Singapore is currently helping to build Amaravati, the new capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. During the latest visit, the nations signed 13 agreements at the “India and Singapore: Stepping into Future” business event on 31 May 2018, in areas such as investment promotion, startups, FinTech, innovation, skills, artificial intelligence, data analytics and water. The Prime Ministers also witnessed the signing of eight agreements at the Istana, Singapore President’s office. The agreements cover areas such as defence, FinTech, cyber security and public administration.

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