Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced US$1 million aid to ASEAN Covid-19 Response Fund at the 17th ASEAN-India Summit held virtually on Thursday. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the 17th ASEAN-India Summit,
November 12, 2020. Photo: VGP

Modi spoke highly of ASEAN’s successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic, affirming his country’s resolve to work with the bloc in research and production of vaccines at reasonable prices.

He also reiterated that ASEAN has always been part of India’s foreign policies and that ASEAN-led mechanisms offer solid platforms for trust building in the region.

India highly values ASEAN’s stance on Indo-Pacific cooperation and stands ready to cooperate with the bloc to foster the implementation of priorities in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), according to PM Modi.

Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of India’s role in promoting cooperation for peace and stability in the region, expressing his wish that India would further engage in ASEAN cooperation areas.

Phuc hailed India for actively carrying forward Mekong-Ganga cooperation and hoped that projects within this framework will make practical contributions to narrowing ASEAN development gap.

Leaders from ASEAN and India highlighted the significant importance of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership for peace, stability, development  and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

ASEAN leaders welcomed India’s “Look East” policy which lays emphasis on beefing up cooperation with ASEAN in a diverse and extensive manner.

They also appreciated India’s support for the principles and values enshrined in the documents jointly adopted by ASEAN and India.

Indian Prime Minister speaks at the 17th virtual ASEAN-India Summit.
Photo: VGP

Regarding regional and international situation, the two sides pledged to continue working together to deal with traditional and non-traditional challenges, especially terrorism and transnational crime.

India is willing to collaborate with ASEAN countries for the East Sea of peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, Modi affirmed.

He also reaffirmed India’s support for ASEAN’s positions on the East Sea, especially the principles of refraining from the use or threat of force in settlement of disputes, non-militarization and respect to international law.

Modi called on parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon complete a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the East Sea, PM Phuc emphasized Viet Nam’s stance suits ASEAN’s principled position which had been affirmed at the 36th ASEAN Summit and 53rd ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting with the aim of turning the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability and cooperation./.