ASEAN

September 4, 2024 4:01 PM

India and Brunei enhance bilateral ties during PM Modi’s historic visit

India and Brunei agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, space, and people-to-people relations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Southeast Asian nation, the first-ever by an Indian prime minister. The visit, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, marked a significant step in strengthening their bilateral relationship. PM Modi and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah held a bilateral meeting where they discussed a wide range of...

September 3, 2024 5:25 PM

PM Modi’s visit to elevate India-Singapore ties: Indian envoy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Singapore is expected to usher in a new era of bilateral relations, according to Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule. Ambule emphasized the significance of the visit, occurring early in both PM Modi's third tenure and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's term. "This visit provides an excellent opportunity to elevate our relationship to unprecedented heights," Ambule said. The envoy highlighted that the recent India-Singap...

September 2, 2024 5:32 PM

Maritime security to feature in talks with Singapore, says MEA ahead of PM Modi’s visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Singapore, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that discussions on maritime security will be a key agenda item during the talks with Singaporean leadership. "On maritime security and safety, of course, you know India's position on the South China Sea. In the case of Singapore as well, it is important for them to maintain sea lines of communication that are safe, secure, and free," said Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East at the ...

Conflict between China and Philippines in the South China Sea

August 27, 2024 1:04 PM

Will ASEAN nations follow Manila’s lead in standing up to China’s bullying?”

In the early hours of 19 August, a tense incident unfolded near the Sabina Shoal (also known as Escoda Shoal), located in the West Philippine Sea, about 140 kilometers from Palawan, Philippines. A Chinese vessel collided with two Philippine vessels, causing structural damage. The collision, which Manila claims was deliberate, sparked a renewed war of words between the Philippines and China, escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Such confrontations between the two nations have become a...

July 26, 2024 7:48 PM

Jaishankar, Russian counterpart Lavrov meet in Laos on sidelines of ASEAN meetings

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Vientiane, Laos, on Friday. The Russian Embassy in India shared an image of the two ministers shaking hands and sharing a light moment on social media platform X. Russian Embassy in India stated on social media platform X, "#Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and #India's External Affairs Minister Dr S.Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar met on the sidelines of ...

July 24, 2024 10:31 PM

UK Foreign Secy Lammy calls on PM Modi, affirms commitment to enhancing bilateral ties

UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. This visit, the first high-level engagement by the newly elected Labour government in the UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signals a renewed focus on the UK-India partnership. Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the priority given by PM Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensi...

July 23, 2024 4:46 PM

EAM Jaishankar to attend ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings in Lao PDR

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is set to visit Vientiane, Lao PDR, from July 25 to 27 to participate in key Foreign Ministers' Meetings under the ASEAN framework, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday. Jaishankar, invited by Lao PDR's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, will attend meetings in the format of ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS), and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The visit underscores India's deep engagement with ASEAN-ce...

July 1, 2024 6:14 PM

India remains valued ASEAN partner, says Laos Foreign Ministry official

India continues to be a valued partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to Chatoulong Bouasisavath, Director General of the ASEAN department in Laos' Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In an exclusive interview in Vientiane, Bouasisavath said "India is a valued partner of ASEAN...India understands ASEAN and has been helping in the ASEAN region..there is also a proposal this year on digitalisation put up by India which when adopted will further cement this India-ASEAN r...

June 19, 2024 5:34 PM

China eyes plan to connect Southeast Asian rail links

China said it was willing to study a plan to connect Malaysia's $10-billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to other China-backed railway projects in Laos and Thailand, potentially expanding Beijing's Belt and Road initiative across Southeast Asia. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia, said on Wednesday the proposal would make the central line of a proposed Pan-Asia Railway, running from Kunming in China to Singapore, a reality. "This will better promote the constructi...