PM Modi arrives in Philippines today for ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his three-day visit to the Philippines today, key features of which will be his participation in the ASEAN Summit on November 13 and the the 12th East Asia summit and ASEAN business and investment summit on Tuesday.

PM Modi left forthe Philippinestoday morning.

PM Modi said earlier these meetings were important as they would further enhance India's trade and investment ties with ASEAN member states, which constitute a significant over 10 per cent of India's external trade.

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The Indian prime minister will be accompanied by top diplomatic and security officials during his visit to Manila including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval And Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

The prime minister, who will arrive in Manila today afternoon, will participate in the opening ceremony of the 31St ASEAN Summit which will be followed by a visit to the International Rice Research Institute at Los Banos.

He will also interact with the Indian community in the Philippines at a reception hosted by the Indian envoy.

"I look forward to interacting with the Indian Community in the Philippines. There will also be visits to the International Rice Research Institute and Mahavir Philippines Foundation Inc," Prime Minister Modi had tweeted.

Also on the cards is a bilateral meeting with the President of Philippines and the current chair of the ASEAN, Rodrigo Duterte.

The Prime Minister will also meet some of the other world leaders, who are participating in both summits including US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern.

PM Modi will have a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the ASEAN summit, sources told WION.

Other leaders expected to attend the summits include Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

ASEAN leaders are set to extensively deliberate on evolving security challenges facing South East Asia.

Issues relating to maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration are likely to be the main points of discussion at the East Asia Summit which, apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US.

PM Modi is likely to reassert India's call for crafting a coordinated global initiative in dealing with traditional and non-traditional threats facing the region.

The US, France and Japan have been pitching for a larger role by India in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to increase its military presence.

Prime minister Modi will also participate in the ASEAN business and investment summit as well as a meeting of leaders of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The RCEP, comprising 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries — India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand — is engaged in negotiations for a free trade pact.