Ahead of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday held talks with Myanmar State counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and the PMs of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Philippines' Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Heads of States from nine countries — Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Singapore arrived on Wednesday for the Summit while the PM of Indonesia will reach New Delhi on Thursday. The main Summit is on Thursday and hours before that the ASEAN leaders will have a retreat session with PM Modi on the issue of maritime cooperation and security. The ten heads of state are also the guest of honour for the Republic Day parade on Friday. This will be the first time in the history that ten world leaders will be present at India's Republic Day event.
During his bilateral meeting with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the issue of Indian aid to the Rakhine state for rehabilitation of Rohingyas also came up for discussion apart from the topics of regional security, connectivity and trade. "The two leaders had a productive discussion on intensifying bilateral cooperation, including follow up on key decisions taken during PM's visit to Myanmar in September 2017," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
The bilateral meeting between Vietnam PM Nguyen Phuc and Modi focused on discussions about cooperation in trade and investment, defence, maritime. The talk was followed by signing of two pacts in the area of Information and Broadcasting and Space cooperation. Modi during his visit to Vietnam in 2016 announced an additional credit line of $500 million to help Vietnam build military capacity.
“long standing traditional and strategic partnership! PM @Narendramodi met with Vietnamese PM Nguyen Phuc. Discussed cooperation in trade and investment, defence, maritime & other areas. Agreements were signed in areas of Information & Broadcasting and Space cooperation,” Raveesh tweeted.
MoU on space is an implementation arrangement between India’s ISRO and National Remote Sensing Department of Vietnam for establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under ASEAN India Space Cooperation. “This would define the framework and conditions of cooperation for establishment of facility to provide Indian remote sensing satellite data over ASEAN region to enable remote sensing applications, which include natural resources management, ocean development and disaster management by ASEAN member states," the MEA said.
In his first visit to India and his foreign trip for this year, Philippines PM Duterte held talks on the issue of regional security, counter terrorism and trade. Philippines is looking for collaboration with India in pharmaceutical sector for production of generic drugs. Modi in November had announced an aid of $5 million for the rehabilitation of Marawi city that suffered due to the clashes between ISIS and security forces. The Indian side reiterated its commitment , support to Philippines in fight against terrorism.