Asean Summit 2025: S Jaishankar holds key bilateral meetings on sidelines; discusses Indo-Pacific and trade issues

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit and the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, engaging with leaders from Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Vietnam on regional, strategic and economic issues.Jaishankar met Japan’s foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu and agreed to intensify efforts to implement a joint vision for the next decade of India-Japan cooperation.“Held wide-ranging discussions on our bilateral ties. Agreed to work closely to implement the joint vision for the next decade of our cooperation,” he posted on X, adding that the talks also covered global and Indo-Pacific developments.

EAM also met US secretary of state Marco Rubio to discuss ways to reset bilateral relations strained by recent US tariffs on Indian goods. “Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues,” Jaishankar said after the meeting.

The talks are understood to have covered the proposed trade pact between the two countries.During the summit, Jaishankar also met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

He said he welcomed Luxon’s commitment to advancing cooperation and nurturing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In his meeting with Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Haji Hasan, Jaishankar discussed progress in bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar.

He also conveyed India’s best wishes for the successful conduct of the Asean and East Asia Summits.The EAM held his first meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, discussing ways to deepen the India–Vietnam Strategic Partnership and strengthen bilateral economic engagement.

Delivering India’s national statement at the 20th East Asia Summit, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. He said India “fully supports” the East Asia Summit’s activities and announced that 2026 will be observed as the Asean–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, underscoring India’s vision under the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The 20th East Asia Summit brought together leaders from 19 nations, including Asean members, India, the US, China, Japan, and Australia, to review regional cooperation and address global challenges. This year’s summit also included the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa as Guests of the Asean Chair, marking Asean’s growing engagement with global groupings such as Brics and the G20.