Singapore Summit: Modi meets Mike Pence to discuss bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore today, on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, including defense cooperation. Modi is on a two-day visit to the country, where he will also attend the 13th East Asia Summit, an ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit.
Trade between India, ASEAN stood at $81.33 billion in 2017-18
As strategic partners, India and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) enjoy close trade and economic relations. Trade between India and ASEAN stood at $81.33 billion in 2017-18 and constitutes 10.58% of India's total trade. Exports to ASEAN countries constitute 11.28% of India's total exports.
China 'coercing' neighbors to reorder Indo-Pacific to its advantage?
Pence, who's representing President Donald Trump at the ASEAN and East Asia Summit, is also expected to discuss with Modi ways to deepen operational cooperation for maintaining a free and open resource-rich Indo-Pacific region, where China has been trying to spread its influence. The Pentagon, in February, had said that China is 'coercing' its neighbors to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to its advantage.
India, US holding talks to ensure free, open Indo-Pacific
"It's increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model—gaining veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic and security decisions," the Pentagon said. India, the US, and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region.
