ASEAN-India Summit of 2025, convened virtually on October 26, established the commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on priorities in shared areas of interest that included inclusivity, sustainability, digital connectivity, and resilient supply chains. Important outcomes of the call included the announcement of 2026 as the “Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation,” promoting partnership opportunities in trade, maritime security, education, tourism, and green energy. 

Timor-Leste was welcomed as ASEAN’s newest member state, signalling the continued momentum of greater connection and collaboration in the region to bolster mutual stability and prosperity.

ASEAN India Summit 2025 Overview

ASEAN India Summit 2025 was a landmark event for regional cooperation, highlighting stronger relations between India and Southeast Asia in a changing global landscape. 

What is ASEAN? 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, otherwise known as ASEAN, was founded in 1967 in order to facilitate economic growth, culture and political collaboration in Southeast Asia. The association promotes peace, stability, and prosperity of member countries and does this by collaborating in different sectors, other areas include trade, education and security.  

Is India a member of ASEAN? 

India is not an ASEAN member but a strategic Dialogue Partner and is represented in many ASEAN-based summits, such as the ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit. India has close relations, a strategic partnership and annually holds summits as part of its “Act East Policy” strategy. 

ASEAN Member Countries

By 2025, ASEAN will have 11 member nations:  

• Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Timor-Leste (included in the 2025 summit)

ASEAN India Summit 2025 Key Highlights

ASEAN-India Summit, 22nd edition, was held in hybrid mode on October 26, 2025, under the chairmanship of Malaysia, with the theme of inclusivity and Sustainability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present virtually and repeated that India was determined to collaborate in various fields or domains such as education, technology, health, green energy, cyber security, and tourism.

India made 2026 the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation to facilitate the blue economy and maritime security. Another move that strengthened ASEAN centrality and inclusiveness was the official acceptance of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN. Other matters touched by the summit included disaster preparedness, renewable energy sharing, regional stability and enhancing the scope of Quick Impact Projects.

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ASEAN India Summit 2025 Venue

“ASEAN India Summit 2025 Held In Which Country” is the most popular question as per the perspective of ASEAN India Summit 2025. 

Malaysia, as a host country, hosted the ASEAN India Summit 2025, which serves as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the year. Anwar Ibrahim, who is the Prime Minister of Malaysia, was instrumental in directing the agenda of the group and ensuring the smooth running of the summit.  

The 47th ASEAN Summit and ASEAN-related Summits, such as the ASEAN India Summit, were formally hosted at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Malaysia. The meetings took place in this major venue where leaders and top officials of the ten ASEAN member countries, including the latest member, Timor-Leste, attended the meetings.  

What are the India-ASEAN Free Trade Accords? 

In 2010, ASEAN and India signed the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) that provided an opportunity to decrease tariffs and improve trade relations between the states. This agreement is related to goods, services, and investments, as by 2025, bilateral trade had reached approximately $122.6 billion. 

The India ASEAN Free Trade accords facilitate trade, enhance the economic growth of the participating countries and promote greater integration into the global value chains. India’s ASEAN FTAs have made it easy to move goods and investments between ASEAN members and India freely. 

India has had the advantage of preferential access to the markets of Southeast Asia, and the ASEAN countries enjoy increased access to Indian goods and services. 

Continuing discussions are meant to enhance further cooperation, solve problems, and form partnerships in all sectors. 

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