PM Modi reaffirms ASEAN as a cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy

During his opening remarks addressed virtually during the 22 nd ASEAN-India Summit held on October 26, 2025, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the significance India accords to the South East Asian organisation in its strategic calculus, remarked: “ India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of world’s population. We not only share geography; we are also bound by deep historical ties and shared values. We are companions in the Global South.

We are not only commercial partners but also cultural partners. ” India and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising of Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and East Timor, have developed a multi-faceted relationship. A significant shift in the India-ASEAN relations took place with the elevation of Look East Policy to Act East Policy under the leadership of Indian PM Modi.

This implied that security cooperation, development of infrastructure and boosting connectivity also became important dimensions of India- ASEAN relations. The annual ASEAN India Summit is the main mechanism through which ties between India and ASEAN have been strengthened.