Kuala Lumpur, Oct 26 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had a significant meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, where he conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s best wishes for a successful ASEAN Summit. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar expressed, “Honoured to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a successful ASEAN Summit. Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people-to-people linkages.”

As the current Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” in Kuala Lumpur from October 26–28.

Earlier on the same day, EAM Jaishankar also met with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. They explored potential cooperation in sectors like automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defense, and shipbuilding.

Post their discussion, Jaishankar shared on X, “Delighted to meet FM Cho Hyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defense and shipbuilding.”

In a significant virtual appearance, PM Modi attended the ASEAN–India Summit on Sunday, emphasizing the rapidly growing collaboration between India and ASEAN in areas such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy. He declared the year 2026 as the ‘ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation’.

During the ASEAN-India Summit, PM Modi remarked, “India has stood firmly with its ASEAN friends in every crisis. Our cooperation in HADR, maritime security, and the blue economy is growing rapidly. In light of this, we are declaring 2026 as the ‘ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation’. Along with this, we are strongly promoting bilateral cooperation in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cyber security… 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEAN’s century.”

Referring to ASEAN as a cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy, the Prime Minister reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to ASEAN centrality.

Highlighting the deep-rooted historical ties and shared values between India and ASEAN, PM Modi stated, “India and ASEAN together represent nearly a quarter of the world’s population. We not only share geography but are also linked by deep historical ties and shared values. We are fellow travelers of the Global South. Our partnership is not just commercial but also cultural.”

Currently visiting Malaysia, EAM Jaishankar is set to represent PM Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

As per a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued on Thursday, “The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments.”

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