NEW DELHI: Highlighting the long-standing cultural and civilizational ties between India and the ASEAN bloc, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita opened the 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival in Delhi on Friday.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Margherita said that music is a universal language that inspires and brings people together, overcoming all barriers. The opportunity to explore the rich musical traditions of a place with which we have strong historical ties—spanning language, literature, Buddhism, and the epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata—makes this festival especially noteworthy.
The Minister emphasized that 2024 marks the tenth year of India's Act East Policy, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. He also disclosed that the festival was an idea that was proposed earlier during the 21st ASEAN Summit held at Vientiane, Laos, as part of a 10-point program aimed towards stronger ties between India and ASEAN.
It witnessed the presence of high-ranking dignitaries, ambassadors of the ASEAN member states, and dynamic performances by artists from both sides. The event is a celebration of the shared heritage of India and ASEAN and a means of fostering a deeper understanding of cultures, Margherita said, echoing his excitement.
Some of the current notable developments in India-ASEAN relations include Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Laos in October for the India-ASEAN Summit, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's keynote speech at the ASEAN-India Think Tank Roundtable in November, where both leaders emphasized how significant this collaboration is to confront regional and global issues and shape Asia's future.
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