New Delhi, January 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit as the “grand finale” of the joint year-long commemorative activities organised among the nations. During his address at the Summit, the Prime Minister said that India shares the ASEAN vision for rule-based societies and values of peace. “This summit is the grand finale of our joint year-long commemorative activities organized in India and the ASEAN countries which provides us with our valuable opportunity to review our journeys and chart our future path”, he added.

“We are committed working with ASEAN nations to enhance collaboration in the maritime domain. In highlights the importance of our strategic partnership placing ASEAN at the centre of India's Act East Policy. Our friendship has been nurtured by our shared culture & civilisation linkages”, he added.

ASEAN at Centre of India's Act East Policy (Image: PIB)

The Prime Minister said that he is delighted to welcome all the leaders at the ASEAN-India commemorative summit as all the nations shared voyage goes back thousands of years. “It is India's privilege to host the ASEAN leaders. The leaders will be our honoured guests at the Republic Day celebrations”, Modi said.

Narendra Modi touched on multilateral ties and said that all nations have made success in implementing objective of ASEAN-India partisanship for peace, progress and shared prosperity through five-year plan of action since 1992.  Earlier in the day, the ASEAN leaders released Commemorative Stamp at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2018.

“The Ramayana, the ancient India epic continues to be a valuable shared legacy in ASEAN & Indian subcontinent. Buddhism also binds us closely. Islam in many parts of South East Asia has distinctive Indian connection going back several centuries”, the Prime Minister said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 25, 2018 07:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).