At India-ASEAN summit, PM Modi bats for early review of trade pact; calls for united fight against t
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pitched for an early review of the India-ASEAN free trade pact and said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides is emerging as a powerful foundation for global stability in an era of uncertainties.
In a virtual address at the India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) annual summit in Kuala Lumpur, Modi described terrorism as a "serious challenge" to global peace and security, and underlined the importance of unity to combat the menace.
The prime minister also declared 2026 as the "ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation" and reaffirmed New Delhi's strong support to the grouping's centrality in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness.
Modi emphasised that an "early review of the ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) can unleash the full economic potential of our relationship for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen regional cooperation", according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In his remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there has been "some real progress" in the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and that the grouping wants to conclude it by this year.
The AITIGA came into force over 15 years ago.
The ASEAN-India summit saw both sides discussing initiatives to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, especially in areas of food security, resilient supply chain, tourism and education.
The two sides also unveiled a statement on sustainable tourism, noting that tourism has become one of the important drivers for economic growth for both ASEAN and India.
PM Modi also extended support for implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030).
The prime minister also proposed to organise the second ASEAN-India defence ministers' meeting and the second ASEAN-India maritime exercise for a secure maritime environment.
India will continue its role as a first responder in times of crisis in the neighbourhood, and further strengthen cooperation in disaster preparedness, he said.
Modi also announced that India will impart training to 400 professionals in renewable energy, for supporting the ASEAN power grid initiative.
It was his 12th participation in the India-ASEAN summit.
In his address, Modi congratulated Timor Leste on becoming the 11th member of ASEAN.
The 11-nation grouping is considered one of the most influential blocs in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.
Malaysia is hosting the annual ASEAN summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping.
"India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world's population. We not only share geography; we are also bound by deep historical ties and shared values," Modi said in his opening remarks.
"We are companions in the Global South. We are not only commercial partners but also cultural partners. ASEAN is a cornerstone of India's Act East Policy."
The prime minister said India has always fully supported ASEAN centrality and ASEAN's outlook in the Indo-Pacific.
"Even in this era of uncertainties, India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to make steady progress. And this strong partnership of ours is emerging as a robust foundation for global stability and development," he said.
The prime minister said both sides are steadily advancing cooperation in areas of education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cyber security.
"We will continue to work together to preserve our shared cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people ties," he said.
"The 21st century is our century, the century of India and ASEAN. I am confident that the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 will build a bright future for all of humanity," he said.
India is committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder in this direction, he said.
Modi said the ASEAN Summit's theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' is clearly reflected in joint efforts, whether it is digital inclusion or ensuring food security and resilient supply chains amid current global challenges.
"India fully supports these priorities and is committed to advancing them together," he said.
"India has stood firmly with its ASEAN friends in every disaster. Our cooperation in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), maritime security, and the blue economy is growing rapidly," he said.
"In view of this, we are declaring 2026 as 'ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation'," he noted.
The ASEAN-India dialogue relations started with the establishment of a sectoral partnership in 1992. This graduated to full dialogue partnership in December 1995 and summit level partnership in 2002. The ties were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2012.
The two-way relations between India and ASEAN have been on a significant upswing in the last few years with focus being on boosting cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence.
In his comments, the Malaysian prime minister said India-ASEAN relationship remained a "force for stability and mutual prosperity".
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
