INDIA FETES 10 ASEAN LEADERS
NEW DELHI— Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host 10 Southeast Asian leaders at India’s Republic Day celebrations as New Delhi seeks to blunt China’s influence in the region.
India will host the leaders as guests of honor at a commemorative summit on Jan. 25 to mark 25 years of ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Traditionally, just one foreign dignitary is feted as guest of honor at the Republic Day parade where India showcases its military might with a procession of troops and weaponry.
But this year, the leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei will be given the honor, the first time such a bloc has attended, India’s foreign ministry said.
Perfect attendance
“We are delighted and honored that all the 10 Asean leaders have confirmed their participation,” said Preeti Saran, a top foreign ministry official.
Modi has been aggressively showcasing India as an alternative to China through his “Act East” policy, pursuing closer trade and cultural ties with the bloc of nations to counter the influence of its regional rival.
The prime minister will meet with the leaders for “free and frank” discussions during the two-day visit where regional maritime security will feature strongly on the agenda, officials said.—