Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to skip the ASEAN Summit scheduled to take place on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur, as reported by media sources on Wednesday. However, India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be representing India at the meetings.
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit will continue for two days, until October 28.
There is no official confirmation regarding India's participation in the summit. However, the sources have revealed that India has informed Malaysia that EAM Jaishankar will represent India at the summit meetings. Still, PM Modi may virtually participate in the ASEAN-India summit.
Still, PM Modi will virtually participate in the ASEAN-India summit. Taking to X, he himself shared the news, stating, "Had a warm conversation with my dear friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia...Look forward to joining the ASEAN-India summit virtually, and to further deepening of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."
For a few years, the Prime Minister has been leading the Indian delegation at the ASEAN-India Summit as well as the East Asia Summit.
US President Donald Trump has also been invited to the summit by Malaysia, along with several other leaders of the countries that serve as the dialogue partners of ASEAN. Trump is expected to travel to Kuala Lumpur on October 26 and might stay for the whole summit.
About the ASEAN-India dialogueThe ASEAN-India dialogue relations began in 1992, with the establishment of a sectoral partnership. It turned into a full dialogue partnership in 1995, then into a partnership of the summit level in 2002. The relations further moved ahead with a strategic partnership in 2012.
ASEAN has 10 member countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
India and ASEAN have witnessed a significant growth in relations with an emphasis on boosting cooperation in trade, investment, security, and defense, among other sectors.
Earlier, PM Modi was slated to visit Cambodia along with Malaysia. But, as reported by the sources, now, he won't be traveling to Malaysia, and the trip to Cambodia also stands postponed.