TLDR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 47th ASEAN Summit virtually due to ongoing Diwali celebrations in India. The two leaders, Modi and Anwar Ibrahim, discussed strengthening bilateral ties, including trade, investment, and regional security.
Prime Minister Modi's Virtual Attendance:
Indian PM Narendra Modi will join the 47th ASEAN Summit virtually, scheduled for October 26-28, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, due to Diwali celebrations in India.
Bilateral Talks:
During a phone call, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and Modi discussed enhancing Malaysia-India relations in areas like trade, technology, education, and regional security.
Deepavali Greetings:
Anwar Ibrahim extended Deepavali wishes to Modi and the people of India, respecting Modi’s decision to participate virtually.
ASEAN-India Partnership:
Both leaders expressed commitment to strengthening ASEAN-India relations for regional peace and prosperity. Malaysia aims to boost cooperation with India in key sectors like trade and investment.
Modi's Statement:
Modi congratulated Anwar on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and confirmed his virtual participation in the ASEAN-India Summit, aiming to deepen the strategic partnership.
Domestic Political Commentary:
Indian opposition leader Jairam Ramesh suggested Modi’s decision was to avoid direct interaction with US President Trump, who will also attend the summit in person.
ASEAN-India Dialogue Background:
ASEAN-India relations began in 1992 and evolved to a strategic partnership by 2012, with a focus on trade, investment, security, and defense. The 10 ASEAN member countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.