Ten leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to attend the Republic Day celebrations in January as chief guests, reported ANI, quoting sources.
An ASEAN-India tableau will also feature in the Republic Day parade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 15th ASEAN summit in Manila, Philippines last month, said 1.25 billion people of India would be happy to host ASEAN leaders as chief guests of the 26 January Republic Day celebrations in the coming year.
Last year, India had invited Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the Chief Guest.
In the past, then-president of the Unites States Barack Obama attended the celebrations in 2015. Former French President Francois Hollande was chief guest the following year.
India has endeavoured to work closely with ASEAN on the issue of terror. Speaking at the 14th ASEAN summit in Laos, Cambodia, Modi had accused Pakistan of instigating terror, and had demanded the country’s isolation. Modi has also asserted that ASEAN is central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy.
It is not known yet who these ten leaders will be.
This is a developing story, further details to follow.
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