MoS Pabitra Margherita Inaugurates 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival

The 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, in New Delhi on Friday. This cultural event, marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy, celebrates the deep historical and cultural bonds between India and ASEAN nations.

Minister Margherita’s Address:

In his address, Minister Margherita highlighted the significance of music as a universal language that bridges cultures and connects people. He remarked, “Today’s event is very special because we have an opportunity to hear music from a region with which we share deep civilization bonds. We share language, literature, cultural practices, stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Jatakas, Buddhism, art, architecture, and even festivals.”

He also noted that 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of India’s Act East Policy, first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 at the ASEAN-India Summit. This policy aims to enhance India’s engagement with ASEAN countries and strengthen cooperation across sectors such as trade, security, and culture.

Festival Highlights:

The festival is a testament to the cultural ties between India and ASEAN, with performances by bands from both regions. The 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival builds on the civilizational connection and showcases the shared heritage that binds India and ASEAN nations.

Minister Margherita shared updates on X, saying, “Inaugurated the 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival today, organised to mark 10 years of the Act East Policy. Also witnessed incredible performances by bands from the ASEAN region & India. The festival builds on the civilisational connect with ASEAN countries.”

Diplomatic Context:

The music festival is a part of broader efforts to strengthen the relationship between India and ASEAN. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 21st India-ASEAN Summit in Laos, where he highlighted the importance of India-ASEAN ties for the future of Asia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also delivered the keynote address at the 8th Roundtable of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, stressing the strategic importance of the relationship.

India and ASEAN continue to deepen their collaboration, with a focus on trade, security, and cultural exchange, as evidenced by initiatives like the ASEAN-India Music Festival.