Big PM Modi-Donald Trump meet at ASEAN summit? Officials issue statement, says PM Modi likely to attend the summit…

ASEAN comprises 10 member countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

New Delhi: Speculation was rife about a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. However, according to the officials familiar with the matter, PM Modi is unlikely to attend the ASEAN-related meetings starting Sunday due to his pre-scheduled commitments. It is being reported that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at these meetings.

It is important to note that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28. No official statement has yet been issued regarding the level of India’s participation in the summit discussions. Sources said that India has informed Malaysia that Jaishankar will represent India in the ASEAN meetings.

Here are some of the key details:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely attend the ASEAN-India Summit through digital means.
• In recent years, the Prime Minister has led the Indian delegation at both the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit.
• Malaysia has invited US President Donald Trump along with the leaders of several dialogue partner countries of ASEAN.
• Doanld Trump will visit Kuala Lumpur on a two-day trip starting October 26.
• The ASEAN-India dialogue relations began in 1992 with the establishment of a sectoral partnership, which was upgraded to a full dialogue partnership in December 1995, and later to a summit-level partnership in 2002.
• These relations were further elevated to a strategic partnership in 2012.

Proposed visit to Cambodia also postponed

ASEAN comprises 10 member countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. According to sources, the initial plan included Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Cambodia along with Malaysia.