New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 27, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.
The announcement came shortly after Prime Minister Modi confirmed that he would not travel to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit but would participate virtually due to ongoing Diwali celebrations in India. The decision followed a cordial phone conversation between PM Modi and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim.
According to the MEA, PM Modi will attend the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit virtually on October 26. During the meeting, the leaders will review the progress of ASEAN-India relations and explore new initiatives to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The statement added that ties with ASEAN remain a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
The 20th East Asia Summit, where Dr Jaishankar will represent India, will provide a platform for dialogue on regional security, peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The summit will also include discussions on major international developments affecting the region.
PM Modi, in a post on X, said he had a “warm conversation” with Anwar Ibrahim and extended his best wishes for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. He also congratulated Malaysia on hosting the upcoming ASEAN-related summits and reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening its strategic engagement with the region.
Anwar Ibrahim, in turn, confirmed PM Modi’s virtual participation and extended Diwali greetings to him and the people of India. He reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and ASEAN–India relations for a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The high-level summit in Kuala Lumpur will bring together key world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, to discuss regional and global challenges. While both PM Modi and President Trump exchanged Diwali greetings, there are currently no plans for a bilateral meeting, as discussions between New Delhi and Washington continue over trade-related issues.
