Indonesia Adjusts ASEAN Meeting Schedule To Facilitate Early Return Of PM Modi To India For G20 Summit

In a bid to facilitate early return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to India for the G20 Summit, Indonesia has agreed to adjust the timings of ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit.

Indonesia is hosting the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) on 6 and 7 September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart Delhi on the night of 6 September to attend the ASEAN Summit and return late evening on the 7 September, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

While addressing a special press conference on Tuesday in view of PM Modi's visit to Jakarta, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar said that the Indonesia agreed to alter the timings of the two different summits which were scheduled for 7 September.

"Given that the G20 summit follows shortly after the ASEAN Summits, it will be a short visit," he said.

"We are appreciative of the Indonesian Government for making adjustments to the ASEAN meeting schedule so as to facilitate Prime Minister's program and his early return," he added.

"Taking into account the possibility of Prime Minister's early return, the Indonesian side adjusted the timing of the East Asia Summit. Originally, it was scheduled for the afternoon, but they moved it to the forenoon," Kumar said.

"So, the ASEAN-India Summit will take place from 9 am to 10 am, followed by a 15-minute gap, and then the East Asia Summit will begin. This way, Prime Minister will be free to return after that," he added.

During his Jakarta visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in the ASEAN-India summit along with heads of state/government of the ASEAN member states.

East Asia summit brings together at the leadership level, ASEAN members and eight dialogue partners, which are Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States.