Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to meet again at the East Asian Summit (EAS) and meetings with the ASEAN countries in Indonesia, following the BRICS summit. The dates under consideration for this significant gathering are September 6-7.
The East Asian Summit (EAS) serves as an annual forum uniting leaders from the ASEAN countries and its partners to engage in discussions on various regional and global issues. The agenda typically includes topics related to political, security, and economic cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to Jakarta is expected to reaffirm India's strong ties with ASEAN countries. It will also emphasize the concept of "ASEAN centrality" in India's Indo-Pacific policy, reflecting a special diplomatic gesture towards Indonesia, a member of the "G-20 Troika," which plays a crucial role in supporting India during G-20 negotiations.
The ASEAN-India Summit is particularly significant due to India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. This summit is anticipated to catalyze discussions aimed at reviewing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and ASEAN member states.
The backdrop of their potential meeting includes intensified efforts by military commanders of India and China to resolve the ongoing border standoff in Ladakh, aiming to de-escalate tensions. A meeting between the two leaders could have considerable implications for these discussions.
Interestingly, U.S. President Joe Biden will not be attending the East Asia Summit; instead, Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States. Biden's schedule includes participation in the G-20 Leaders' Summit in India, where he will focus on critical issues such as climate change, global conflicts, and multilateral financial institutions.
Meetings like the one anticipated between Modi and Xi provide crucial opportunities for leaders to address pressing regional and global matters. They serve to enhance diplomatic ties and work collaboratively towards resolving ongoing conflicts or tensions.
Prime Minister Modi's visit underscores India's commitment to regional cooperation, strengthening ASEAN-India relations, and contributing to broader discussions that shape the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.
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