PM Modi to skip ASEAN Summit in person; what’s behind the decision to go virtual?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ASEAN-India Summit virtually later this month, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday, adding that India and Malaysia discussed ways to strengthen their bilateral relations to a “more strategic and comprehensive level.”

In a Facebook post, Anwar said Modi informed him during a phone conversation on Tuesday night that he would join the ASEAN-India Summit online, citing the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India.

“Last night I received a phone call from my counterpart, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, to discuss efforts to strengthen Malaysia-India bilateral relations to a more strategic and comprehensive level,” Anwar wrote.

“India remains an important partner for Malaysia in the fields of trade and investment, in addition to close cooperation in the technology, education and regional security sectors,” he added.

Anwar also said the two leaders discussed preparations for the 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28.

“He (Modi) said that he would attend online given the Deepavali celebrations that were still being celebrated in India at that time. I respect the decision and extend my Deepavali greetings to him and all the people of India,” the Malaysian premier said.

While there has been no official confirmation from New Delhi yet, reports suggest that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is likely to represent India at the summit in person.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is focusing on the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, and Modi is also expected to participate in Chhath Puja celebrations next week, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Malaysia has also extended invitations to several dialogue partner leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit Kuala Lumpur for a two-day trip starting October 26.

The Mint newspaper reported that India and the United States are close to concluding a long-pending bilateral trade agreement that could reduce tariffs on Indian exports to around 15–16% from the current average of about 50%. The deal was reportedly expected to be announced at the ASEAN Summit.

India’s ties with ASEAN date back to 1992, when it became a sectoral dialogue partner. The relationship was elevated to full dialogue partnership in 1995, summit-level engagement in 2002, and a strategic partnership in 2012.

ASEAN’s ten member nations are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.