PM Modi to attend Asean summit in Jakarta next week

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will visit Jakarta next week on September 6-7 for the India-Asean Summit and also East Asia Summit, the government said on Saturday in an official announcement. The PM will be back in time for a bilateral summit with US President Joe Biden on September 8, before heading into the G20 meetings the next day.

The White House said on Friday that Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with Modi on September 8. It added that while in Delhi, Biden will also commend Modi's leadership of the G20 and reaffirm the US commitment to the G20 as the premier forum of economic cooperation, including by hosting it in 2026.

At the G20, the leaders will also mitigate the "economic and social impacts" of the Russia-Ukraine war, and increase the capacity of multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, to better fight poverty, including by addressing global challenges, according to the announcement.

In Jakarta, Modi's meeting with Asean leaders will be the first summit since the elevation of India-Asean relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. "The summit will review the progress of India-Asean relations and chart the future direction of co-operation," said the government. It will also be another occasion for India to reaffirm its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and Asean centrality.

The East Asia Summit provides an opportunity for leaders of Asean countries and its eight dialogue partners, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional and global significance, said the government. Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are giving the summit a miss. While the US will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris, China will send Premier Li Qiang.

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