21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently attended the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

Purpose: The ASEAN-India Summit aims to strengthen India's ties with ASEAN countries, while the East Asia Summit focuses on regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Act East Policy: This year marks the 10th anniversary of India's Act East Policy, which has significantly enhanced India's engagement with Southeast Asia.

Indo-Pacific Region: The East Asia Summit provided a platform to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

About the ASEAN 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries.

Member States: The ten member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Formation: ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).

Objectives: The organization aims to promote political and economic cooperation, regional stability, and cultural development among its member states. 

ASEAN Way: ASEAN operates on the principle of non-interference, consensus, and respect for national sovereignty, often referred to as the "ASEAN Way."