India and ASEAN to Lead the 21st Century Together, Says PM Modi at Kuala Lumpur Summit

New Delhi/Kuala Lumpur:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday delivered a powerful virtual address at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, calling the 21st century the “century of India and ASEAN.” He congratulated Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for hosting the summit and reaffirmed that ASEAN remains a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy and its vision for an inclusive Indo-Pacific.

“Together We Represent a Quarter of the World”

VIDEO | “The 21st century is ours – it belongs to India and ASEAN, ” says PM Modi (@narendramodi) while addressing the 22nd ASEAN summit virtually.

He says, “India has always stood with ASEAN friends in any disaster. Be it HADR, the blue economy, or ocean security, our… pic.twitter.com/WIXLW2adQu

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2025

Emphasising the shared destiny of India and ASEAN, Modi said, “India and ASEAN together represent almost a quarter of the world’s population. We do not just share geography; we are bound by deep historical ties, cultural bonds, and shared values. We are fellow travelers of the Global South.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the summit’s theme — “Inclusivity and Sustainability” — noting that both India and ASEAN have shown the world how regional unity can promote global peace and prosperity.

Digital, Food, and Maritime Resilience

Modi underscored India’s strong commitment to advancing digital inclusion, food security, resilient supply chains, and disaster preparedness across the Indo-Pacific. He pointed out that India has stood shoulder to shoulder with ASEAN nations in times of crisis — whether natural disasters or economic disruptions.

“Our cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy is expanding rapidly. To strengthen this bond further, we declare 2026 as the ‘ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation,’” Modi announced, drawing applause from regional leaders.

Expanding Ties Across Sectors

The Prime Minister called for deeper engagement in education, tourism, science and technology, healthcare, green energy, and cybersecurity. “The 21st century is our century — the century of India and ASEAN,” he said, expressing optimism that ASEAN’s Community Vision 2045 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 will together shape a brighter, sustainable future for the world.

Welcomes Timor-Leste, Condoles Thai Royal Passing

Extending greetings to Timor-Leste on joining ASEAN as its newest member, Modi also offered condolences on the passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother, underscoring India’s shared cultural and emotional ties with the region.

Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Vision

Reiterating India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and its Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, Modi said that the India–ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to thrive despite global uncertainty. “Our strong partnership is emerging as a foundation for global stability and development,” he said, urging nations to build a rules-based, cooperative Indo-Pacific architecture.

The summit concluded with renewed calls for collaborative growth, sustainable development, and a shared vision of peace and prosperity in the region — reaffirming India’s growing leadership role in shaping Asia’s future.