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The Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the summits in Vientiane

His visit to Laos October 10-11 underlines how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries are a significant pillar of India's Act East policy and key partners of New Delhi's Indo-Pacific Vision strongly backed by Prime Minister's Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.

"The ASEAN-India Summit will review progress of India-ASEAN relations through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation. The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

With Prime Minister Modi firmly supporting ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN outlook on the region, India has, over the last 10 years, believed that a strong and unified ASEAN plays an important role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific.

Last year, PM Modi had travelled to Jakarta just three days ahead of the crucial G20 Leaders' Summit hosted by New Delhi.

His visit to Indonesia in September 2023 for the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit had sent a strong message on the value India attaches to engagement with the countries of the Southeast Asian region and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific under the current geopolitical scenario.

The ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta was also the first since the elevation of India-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 and charted the future direction of cooperation.(IANS)

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The last time these two sides met, Sri Lanka beat India to clinch their first Women's Asia Cup title at Dambulla in July. India need to win heavily against Sri Lanka, who are yet to register a win in their two games of the T20 World Cup, to improve their net run rate of -1.217 and maintain their slim chance of entering the semifinals.

“So far we haven't batted first so thought we would have a bat and put a decent total on the board. Feeling better (about neck injury), if we play better cricket maybe I will feel better. Asia Cup we played good cricket, one odd day (talking about the final where India lost to Sri Lanka) they played good cricket,” said India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have brought in Ama Kanchana, who replaces Hasini Perera, in the playing eleven. Captain Chamari Athapaththu has called on her team to play fearless cricket in what is also their first game of the tournament in Dubai.

“We stick with our plans and hope to play our best cricket today. We have to play fearless cricket and taking the smart option is very important. Powerplay is really important and after that, we have to rotate the strike,” she said.

Playing XIs:

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Sajeevan Sajana, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana and Renuka Singh Thakur

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wicketkeeper), Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweera (IANS)

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Notably, this will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to these three African nations.

"It is coming at a time when the African Union has been made a permanent member of the G20 during India's presidency last year. Africa is the core of the global south, as the PM had been driving the agenda. Voice of the Global South has been done with the agenda of development. We believe that partnerships with Africa are very important and critical for our own growth and the growth of the global south," MEA Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi said in a press briefing today.

President Murmu will land in Algeria on October 13, where she will be meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune within a month of his second tenure as the President.

She will also be the first-ever President from India to visit Algeria at the level of head of state or head of government after 39 years.

During her visit, President Murmu will be attending an Indian community reception on October 13. On October 14, she will pay her respects at the Maqam Echahid monument, which was made in honour of the people who were killed during the Algerian War of Independence.

Following this, she will have a tete-a-tete with President Tebboune, followed by delegation-level talks and a banquet hosted in her honour. She will also address the Algeria-India Economic Forum on that day.

The President will address the India-Algeria Economic Forum and the Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University. She will also inaugurate the India Corner at Hamma Garden at Jardin d'essai. She will also be inaugurating an India centre at the Hamma Botanical Garden by planting a sapling from India.

India and Algeria share cordial relations with cooperation in several fields including strategic areas like oil and gas, defence, and space cooperation. The visit is expected to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, the MEA added.

On the second leg of her visit, President Murmu will arrive in Mauritania on October 16. This is also the first time for someone at such a high level from India to visit the African nation since its independence in 1960.

Following her arrival, she will be holding a tete-a-tete with the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, following which they will be signing four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) related to culture, foreign office institutions, foreign office consultation and visa waiver agreements for diplomatic and official passport holders. She will also address the Indian community there.

Mairurania is currently holding the chairship of the African Union. President Murmu's visit will provide further impetus to India-Mauritania bilateral relations, the MEA said.

President Murmu will land in Malawi on October 17, at the invitation of the President of Malawi. She will also hold a tete-a-tete with him. Following this, President Murmu will address a business event and will also meet with the Indian diaspora there.

"The visit will reaffirm our strong commitment to further strengthen our existing friendly and cordial relations with Malawi," the MEA stated.

Three MoUs on youth affairs, sports and cultural exchange will also be signed between the two countries.

President Murmu will depart for India from Malawi on October 19.

"The State Visit by President Murmu to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi is reflective of India's deep desire to strengthen its partnership with countries in Africa. It comes a year after the African Union was made a permanent member of G 20 during India's Presidency," the MEA added. (ANI)

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