NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Manila next week to lead India's delegation at the 23rd ASEAN-India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit from November 16 to 18, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday.
The three-day mission anchors New Delhi's strategic thrust into Southeast Asia. Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, laid out the itinerary during a special briefing in the capital, detailing high-level multilateral talks and bilateral engagements on the sidelines.
"In addition to a very active bilateral relationship with all 11 ASEAN member states, we see our engagement with the ASEAN regional platform also as a key element or building block of our Act East policy," Tandon said.
The Prime Minister's schedule opens in Manila with an official banquet hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for visiting heads of state and government. Bilateral negotiations will weave through the subsequent summit sessions the following day, alongside efforts to accommodate a gathering with the local Indian expatriate community.
"There is also a very strong demand from the Indian community to meet the Prime Minister, so we are trying to adjust that also in his schedule," Tandon said.
Under the 2024 chairship of the Philippines, regional leaders have adopted the overarching summit theme of 'Navigating the Future'. Talks will focus on building economic and strategic shock absorbers against shifting global currents.
| Summit Parameter | Official Detail |
|---|---|
| Host City & Country | Manila, Philippines |
| Summit Dates | November 16–18 |
| Primary Forums | 23rd ASEAN-India Summit & 21st East Asia Summit |
| Bilateral Host | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. |
| Regional Trade Value | Approximately $122 Billion |
| Core Policy Anchor | Act East Policy (11 Member States) |
Trade between India and the ASEAN bloc now hovers near $122 billion, cementing the Southeast Asian footprint as one of New Delhi's most vital commercial corridors. Yet geography dictates diplomacy as much as commerce.
We in India strongly believe that, as an Indian Ocean country that abuts this very important Southeast Asian maritime zone, a strong strategic relationship with the ASEAN member states, as a collective as well as individually, is good for both of us.
Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs
Tandon stated that tighter integration will help both India and Southeast Asian partners weather regional geopolitical friction while securing open sea lanes across adjacent maritime corridors.
Prime Minister Modi will depart for Manila early next week, with formal summit deliberations and scheduled bilateral dialogues slated to begin on November 16.