PM Modi advocates post-Covid world order based on rules

Jakarta: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday advocated for establishing a post-COVID world order based on rules and enhancing the voice of the Global South.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of keeping a free and open Indo-Pacific in a speech at the yearly ASEAN-India summit held here.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.

India supports the ASEAN outlook on Indo-Pacific, Modi told the leaders of the grouping.

The prime minister described ASEAN as the epicentre of growth, saying it plays a crucial role in global development.

The 21st century is Asia's century. It is a century of all of us, he said.

It will be mutually beneficial for all of us to develop a rules-based post-Covid world order as well as efforts by all (Sabka Prayas) for human welfare, Modi said.

Modi said there has been consistent progress in "our mutual cooperation" despite the atmosphere of global uncertainty.

ASEAN is the central pillar of India's Act East policy, he added.

The prime minister also noted that the ASEAN-India partnership has entered its fourth decade.

ASEAN occupies a prominent place in India's Indo-Pacific initiative, he said.

With PTI inputs