New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) External affairs minister S Jaishankar will undertake a two-day visit to Manila, the Philippines, beginning Wednesday to attend a meeting of the Quad grouping as well as to participate in deliberations under the framework of the ASEAN bloc.
Jaishankar will join foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States at the Quad meeting.
The Quad foreign ministers last met in New Delhi in late May, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to India.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar’s Manila visit includes participation in key ASEAN-framework ministerial sessions, notably the ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS), and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meetings.
The ASEAN or the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations 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.
“The visit underscores India’s deepening engagement with ASEAN under the Act East Policy and reaffirms our strong commitment to further strengthening the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership,” the MEA said on Jaishankar’s visit.
“It is of particular significance that 2026 has been designated as the ASEAN-India year of maritime cooperation,” it said.
The MEA said Jaishankar will be participating in a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the US on the margins of the ASEAN-related meetings.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from participating countries, it said. PTI MPB KVK KVK
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