Your Excellency Prime Minister Modi,

Excellencies,

Honorable ASEAN Leaders,

I sincerely appreciate PM Modi for attending this event amidst preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit. Once again, thank you PM Modi.

Your Excellency,

So far, the cooperation between ASEAN and India has been bringing concrete benefits for the people. Nevertheless, we still need to optimize our collaboration especially considering the huge potential of the Indian Ocean which connects 33 countries with 2.9 billion people which is projected to be one fifth of the world GDP in 2025. The potential for cooperation needs to be further strengthened to promote the development of sustainable blue energy, food security, maritime connectivity, and marine resources. In addition, we must also tackle maritime crimes such as piracy, drug crimes, human smuggling and illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing.

We should be able to create a sea of cooperation, not a sea of confrontation. We must maintain the stability and peace, as well as respect international law, promote habit of cooperation, and build an inclusive regional architecture. This is the key to realizing the region as the epicentrum of growth.

That concludes my remarks. I officially open the 20^th ASEAN-India Summit. I invite His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, to take the floor.

The floor is yours.

(RAS/MMB)