India and ASEAN have decided to jointly combat terrorism in Indo- Pacific region.
Talking to newspersons in Bangkok, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vijay Singh Thakur said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the terrorism issue in the India- ASEAN summit today and said that it is threat to peace and security.
The leaders of the ASEAN nations also expressed the same views and agreed for strategic cooperation.
Ms. Thakur said that Mr. Modi met Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut- Chan- O- Cha and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo.
She said that India and Thailand agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in defence industries sector.
Both the leaders also discussed ways to enhance connectivity between the two countries including in the areas of physical and digital connectivity.
They welcomed the start of a direct flight between Bangkok and Guwahati.
Ms. Thakur further said that Mr. Modi highlighted the need for greater market access for Indian commodities including, pharmaceutical, automotive and agricultural products in Indonesia.
The Prime Minister invited Indonesian companies to invest in India.
Prime Minister also met State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi. He emphasized the priority India attaches to Myanmar as a partner at the crossroads of India’s Look East Policy and the Neighbourhood First policies.
Towards this end, he emphasized India’s continuing commitment to improve physical connectivity to and through Myanmar to Southeast Asia.
He said, India would also continue to strongly support the expansion of capacity for Myanmar’s police, military and civil servants.
Ms. Kyi reaffirmed the importance her government attaches to the partnership with India and her appreciation of India’s consistent and sustained support for the widening of democracy and deepening of development in Myanmar.
The two Leaders agreed that a stable and peaceful border was an important anchor for the continued expansion of their partnership.
With regard to the situation in Rakhine, following the completion of the first Indian project to build 250 prefabricated houses–which were handed over to the Myanmar government this July, Mr. Modi expressed India’s readiness to carry out more socio-economic projects in this State.
Prime Minister emphasized that the speedy, safe and sustainable return from Bangladesh of displaced people to their homes in Rakhine state was in the interest of the region, the displaced persons, and all three neighbouring States- India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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