Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta – 18th East Asia Summit

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is East Asia Summit?
• News Summary: Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta – 18th East Asia Summit
• Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi at 18th EAS

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Modi attended the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Jakarta.

East Asia Summit

• About
  • The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum for leaders of countries in the Indo-Pacific region to discuss political, security, and economic challenges.
  • The EAS was established in 2005 by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is held annually.
    • The EAS was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2005.
• Members
  • The EAS was originally attended by 16 countries from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania.
  • In 2011, membership expanded to 18 countries, including Russia and the United States.
  • Currently, EAS is a forum of 18 countries that represent 54% of the world's population and 58% of global GDP. The 18 countries are:
    • Ten member states of the ASEAN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam;
    • along with Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and United States.
  • The EAS is the only leaders-led forum that brings together the US, China, Russia, India, RoK, and Australia.
• To become a member of the EAS, countries must:
  • Sign the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
  • Be a formal dialogue partner of ASEAN
  • Have substantive cooperative relations with ASEAN
• Six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS
  • Environment and Energy,
  • Education,
  • Finance,
  • Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases,
  • Natural Disaster Management, and
  • ASEAN Connectivity
• India and EAS
  • India is member of EAS since 2005.
  • At the 4th EAS in Thailand in 2009, leaders endorsed the proposal to revive Nalanda University.
    • The idea was first proposed by former President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006.

News Summary: Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta – 18^th East Asia Summit

• PM Narendra Modi attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Jakarta on 7 September 2023.

Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi at 18^th EAS

• Reiterated the importance of EAS mechanism
  • PM reiterated the importance of EAS mechanism and reaffirmed India’s support to further strengthening it.
  • He underlined India’s support for ASEAN centrality and called for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
  • He also highlighted synergies of visions for Indo-Pacific between India and ASEAN, and underscored that ASEAN is the focal point of Quad’s vision.
• Highlighted the importance of multilateralism and rules-based international order
  • He pitched for everyone’s commitment and joint efforts to strengthen the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
  • He also said that India believes that the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea should be effective and compliant with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
    • This is significant after several ASEAN member countries reacted sharply to Beijing’s territorial claim over the South China Sea in its latest edition of the standard map of China.
    • On August 28, Beijing released the 2023 edition of the standard map of China.
    • This map included Taiwan, the South China Sea, Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as Chinese territories.
    • India dismissed the map and lodged a strong protest with China over it.
• Called for a cooperative approach to address global challenges
  • He called for a cooperative approach to address global challenges including terrorism, climate change and resilient supply chains for essential items including food and medicines, and for energy security.
  • He highlighted India’s steps in the area of climate change such as ISA, CDRI(Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure), LiFE (LiFEStyle For Environment) and OSOWOG(One Sun One World One Grid)

Q1) What is ASEAN centrality?

ASEAN centrality is the idea that ASEAN is the leader, driver, and architect of regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. It is a key purpose and principle of the ASEAN Charter. The goal of ASEAN centrality is to become the dominant regional platform to overcome common challenges and engage with external powers.

Q2) What is Nalanda University?

Nalanda University is a public central university in Rajgir, Bihar, India. It was established in 2010 by an Act of the Indian Parliament. The university is supported by 18 member countries. Nalanda University is also known as Nalanda International University. It is a research-intensive university that offers postgraduate degrees. The university was founded in the 5th century CE. It was one of the first residential universities in the world, with dormitories for students. At its peak, it had over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university attracted scholars from all over Asia, including India, China, Tibet, and Persia.

Source: Prime Minister’s participation in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit | MEA | The Hindu | DD News