JAKARTA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has suggested India’s phenomenal success in digital penetration to be shared to benefit all Asean member countries, especially in digital banking and finance as well as the rural area.
“I would certainly feel this [is] one issue India needs to explore and can contribute immensely to our common success,” he said at the Asean-India Summit, which was led by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in conjunction with the Asean Summit here today.
Anwar also encouraged economic cooperation between India and the Southeast Asian regional bloc, especially in concluding agreements like the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025, and leveraging India’s agricultural expertise for smart agriculture in the region.
Anwar stressed that climate change cooperation is also essential by focusing on renewable energy, water management and biodiversity conservation.
On geopolitics, Anwar emphasised using friendly relations to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence amid geopolitical challenges, including the South China Sea issue.
During the meeting, Anwar also highlighted India’s vital role as a strategic ally and congratulated the country on its historic lunar landing.
“We share the pride as part of the Asian and Asean venture,” he added.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touched down on the lunar surface on August 23, making India the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and the first to land in the south pole region. – September 7, 2023