East Asia Summit to discuss terror: Modi

PM Narendra Modi said "looming threat of terror" and pressing security issues will be discussed at the 10th East Asia Summit.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday "looming threat of terror" and pressing security issues will be discussed at the 10th East Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia on Sunday.

Modi, who will take part in the summit, said it was being held at a critical juncture. 

In a series of Facebook posts over his visits to Malaysia and Singapore from November 21-24, Modi said these were aimed strengthening India's economic and security cooperation with them.

Modi said India attaches a lot of importance to the East Asia Summit and added that the country had been represented at prime minister-level in each of the previous nine editions of the summit.

"This summit is being held at a critical juncture and together, we will discuss the pressing security issues. The looming threat of terror and the prevailing situation in West Asia will also be a part of the discussions," he said.

The summit will be held days after the G20 countries resolved to jointly fight terror worldwide in the wake of terror attack in Paris that claimed 129 lives.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Modi, who will also take part in ASEAN-India Summit on Saturday, said India's partnership with ASEAN nations has gathered immense momentum over the years.

"ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner and India is the sixth largest trading partner for ASEAN. Our trade and investment flows are substantially growing. We want to further scale up our trade and economic ties."

Modi said he will expand on the need for closer economic cooperation and investment opportunities in India at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

"We are extremely enthusiastic to have better relations with the ASEAN family in areas such as defence, security and cultural ties. Robust India-ASEAN ties will give great impetus to our collective dream of making this century an 'Asian Century'," he said.

Modi said he will also hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and other world leaders.

"Malaysia is at the core of our 'Act East Policy.' Since 2010, India has a strategic partnership with Malaysia."

Modi will also visit Ramakrishna Mission in Malaysia, inaugurate a statue of Swami Vivekananda and visit Batu Caves Temple.

Over 2 million persons of Indian-origin reside in Malaysia. 

Modi said there will be an interaction with the diaspora at a community programme. "Our diaspora must be saluted for their accomplishments and bringing the two nations closer," he said.

Referring to his visit to Singapore, Modi said it comes at a special moment marking fifty years of "strong India-Singapore relations".

"The importance India attaches to ties with Singapore is immense. Singapore is a leading investor in India and several Indian companies are expanding their operations to Singapore. Singapore's success is indeed noteworthy."

Modi said Singapore's achievements in urban development, urban transport, waste management, development of ports and skill development were well known. 

"My visit to Singapore will focus on these key areas of India-Singapore cooperation."

The prime minister said his first engagement in Singapore will be the Singapore Lecture.

"There will be talks with President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong," Modi said, adding that he had met the leaders on previous occasions.

Modi's meeting with prominent investors will focus on the investment opportunities in India.

Modi will visit Institute of Technical Education and pay homage at the INA Memorial Marker at Esplanade Park.

Over 350,000 Indians stay in Singapore. "We will interact at a community programme on November 24 evening," Modi said.

Modi invited people to share their ideas and inputs for the community programmes in Malaysia and Singapore.