Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the ongoing COVID-19 had posed a lot of challenges to the member countries of ASEAN.
While addressing the 18th ASEAN-India summit via video conferencing PM Modi said, “ Due to COVID-19, all of us had to face a lot of challenges, this challenging time was also a test of the India-ASEAN friendship. Our mutual cooperation in the COVID-19 era will keep strengthening our relations in future and form a base for goodwill between our people.”
Modi also focused upon the historical ties between India and ASEAN, its shared values, traditions, languages, texts and culture.
The PM also announced that on the occasion of 30 years of India-ASEAN partnership and the 75th year of India’s independence, the important milestone will be celebrated as ASEAN-India Friendship Year.
वर्ष 2022 में हमारी पार्टनरशिप के 30 वर्ष पूरे होंगे।
भारत भी अपनी आज़ादी के 75 वर्ष पूरे करेगा।
मुझे बहुत हर्ष है कि इस महत्वपूर्ण पड़ाव को हम 'आसियान-भारत मित्रता वर्ष' के रूप में मनाएंगे: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2021
Notably, India-ASEAN summits are held annually and provide opportunity for India and ASEAN to engage at the highest level. Last year, PM Modi virtually attended the 17th ASEAN-India Summit in November.
