India celebrates its 69th Republic Day with ASEAN LEADERS
India on Friday celebrated its 69th Republic Day with its customary display of military might and cultural that saw the rare attendence by heads of state and government from 10 Southeast Asian countries in a major departure from established practice.
Leaders of countries representing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) took their host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as President Ram Nath Kovind took the salute in New Delhi.
The invite to leaders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines and Malaysia comes at a time when India is celebrating 25 years of partnership with the economically vibrant Asean. On Thursday, Modi hosted all 10 Asean leaders at a commemorative summit with the theme Shared Values, Common Destiny during which the two sides agreed for future partnership that included an enhancement of physical and digital connectivity besides increased economic linkages.
