PTI, NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a five-day visit on Tuesday to Indonesia and Singapore, two of India’s strategically key partners in the region, with an aim to deepen defence ties, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Announcing the visit, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said a raft of agreements including in areas of defence and security are expected to be inked during Modi’s visit to these two countries, which are members of powerful regional grouping ASEAN.
India and Indonesia are likely to sign a pact on defence cooperation as a similar agreement inked years ago had expired.
Secretary (East) in the MEA Preeti Saran said the prime minister will arrive in Indonesia on May 29 and will leave for Singapore from there on May 31 for a three-day visit.
In Singapore, Modi will hold bilateral talks with his Singaporean counterpart and deliver the key note address at the Shangri-la dialogue which is expected to be attended by top leaders from several important countries.
Asked about Singapore’s apparent reservations over formation of a quadrilateral coalition among India, the US, Australia and Japan, she said there has been a “deep sense” of appreciation among the ASEAN nations about New Delhi’s views about peace and security in the region.
“We give primacy and importance to ASEAN’s unity and ASEAN’s centrality in the region,” she said. Singapore is a key member country of the 10-nation ASEAN grouping with which India has been intensifying its defence and security ties.
The US, Australia and several other leading powers have been favouring a greater role by India in the Indo-Pacific region where China has been flexing its military might.
