On 8th September 2016 the 28th and the 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit concluded at Vientiane, Laos. However, the main theme for the 2016 summit was Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community.
The Chairperson of the summit was H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.
India-ASEAN Highlights
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi had represented India at the ASEAN summit at the 14th ASEAN-India summit.
- ASEAN-India adopted a document aiming at politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and people oriented people centered ASEAN-India Community.
- The document recognizes the vital importance of the planned review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods (AITIG) Agreement.
- It seeks to ensure that the agreement is trade-facilitative and remains relevant to the current global trading practices.
- The document also emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability, unimpeded commerce, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.
Mr. Modi, who was addressing the 14th ASEAN-India summit here, noted that growing radicalism through the ideology of hatred and spread of extreme violence were the other security threats.
“Export of terror, growing radicalisation and spread of extreme violence are common security threats to our societies,” he said in his second attack on Pakistan in two days amid escalating war of words between New Delhi and Islamabad. Laos Premier Thongloun Sisoulith complimented India’s Act East policy and its contribution to ASEAN, and hoped the summit will provide the future direction.