Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India-ASEAN friendship was very important at a time when parts of the world were facing conflicts and tensions.

Addressing the 21st India-ASEAN Summit, PM Modi also said he had announced the Act East Policy 10 years ago and in the past decade it had given new energy, direction and momentum to the historic ties between India and ASEAN nations.

“In the past decade, India-ASEAN trade has doubled and now stands at more than USD 130 billion,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he believed that the 21st century, also called the Asian century, is the century of India and ASEAN nations.

“India-ASEAN friendship, coordination dialogue and cooperation is very important at a time when several parts of the world are facing conflicts and tensions,” he said.

Announcing a 10-point plan to strengthen ASEAN-India comprehensive partnership, PM Modi focused on celebrating the year 2025 as “ASEAN-India Year of Tourism” for which India would make available $5 million towards joint activities.

“To celebrate a decade of Act East Policy through several people centric activities including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue,” he said.

He gave a third plan, “To organise ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund.”

The Prime Minister mentioned the doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and provision of new scholarships for ASEAN students at Agricultural Universities in India.

To strengthen ASEAN-India partnership, Modi said, “Review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025.”

Enhancing Disaster Resilience for which India would make available $5 million, he said, would strengthen partnership further. He asked to initiate a new Health Ministers’ track towards building Health Resilience.

He also asked to initiate a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue towards strengthening Digital and Cyber Resilience.

In his 10-point plan, PM Modi suggested a workshop on Green Hydrogen in order to strengthen ASEAN-India comprehensive partnership.

“Invited ASEAN Leaders to join ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign towards building climate resilience,” PM Modi suggested.

“The India-ASEAN Summit was a productive one. We discussed how to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and ASEAN. We look forward to deepening trade ties, cultural linkages and cooperation in technology, connectivity and other such sectors,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Modi arrived here in Laos on a two-day visit to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits and further deepen engagement with countries in the groupings. 

Industrialist, political leaders across the country paid tributes to veteran industrialist and Chairman emeritus of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata who died late Wednesday night at the age of 86. He had been undergoing treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital for the last few days.

Issuing a statement, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that with a profound sense of loss they bid farewell to Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contribution have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of the nation. 

As soon as the news broke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the national icon, calling him a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He said that Ratan Tata provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses, adding that his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also condoled his death, stating  that Ratan Tata was a man with a vision, and has left a lasting mark on both business and philosophy.  

Industrialist Gautam Adani also paid tribute to Ratan Tata. He expressed that India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. He recalled Ratan Tata as not only a business leader, but one who embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. 

Muskesh Ambani also hailed Ratan Tata as the country’s most illustrious and kind-hearted son. He expressed that it is a very sad day for India, and a big loss, not just to Tata Group, but to every Indian. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also credited the national icon for mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India. 

Declaring a state of mourning in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Ratan Tata would be accorded state funeral. His mortal remains is also kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in South Mumbai’s Nariman Point from 10 am for people to pay their homage. His body will be taken to the Worli crematorium for last rites at 3:30 pm. 

Ratan Tata was born in 1937. After his parents divorce in 1948, Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata. He studied architecture at Cornell University, and followed it up with a management course at Harvard.

He is also the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, who founded a small business which is now one of the world’s largest corporations, with interests across the automotive, aerospace and defence, information technology, steel, real estate, financial services and investments, and aviation, e-commerce, and tourism sectors.

Ratan Tata was twice the Chairperson of the Tata Group conglomerate, from 1991 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017. Though he has long since stepped back from the company’s day-to-day running, he continues to head its charitable trusts. He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second- highest civilian honour in 2008. He also received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour, in 2000.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Prime Minister said as he departed for a two-day visit to Laos to attend the 21st Asean-India and 19th East Asia Summit. His visit to Vientiane comes at the invitation of his Laos counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone.

After landing in Lao PDR, PM Modi said, “Looking forward to the deliberations with various world leaders.”

“The welcome in Lao PDR was memorable! The Indian community is clearly very connected with their roots. Also gladdening was the local people speaking in Hindi and doing a Bihu dance! Do watch,” he said in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi said in a statement that “this year we are marking a decade of our Act East Policy. I will join the Asean leaders to review progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of our cooperation”.

“The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. We share close cultural and civilisational ties with the region, including with Lao PDR, which are enriched by shared heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana,” he added.

“Leaving for Lao PDR to take part in the 21st Asean-India and 19th East Asia Summit. This is a special year as we mark a decade of our Act East Policy, which has led to substantial benefits for our nation. There will also be various bilateral meetings and interactions with various world leaders during this visit,” PM Modi earlier today as he departed for Lao PDR.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X, said, “India’s Act East policy: A decade-old commitment growing strong! PM @narendramodi embarks on a 2-day visit to Lao PDR, to participate in the 21st Asean-India and 19th East Asia Summit.”