Qutub Minar illuminated to mark ASEAN's 59th anniversary

ASEAN 59th anniversary Qutub Minar illumination India-ASEAN relations Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Southeast Asian Nations

To mark the 59th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Qutub Minar in New Delhi was illuminated with the bloc's emblem and signature colors of blue, red, and yellow. The event, which featured the projection of the ASEAN rice-stalk symbol onto the UNESCO World Heritage site, was organized by the Philippine Embassy in India. This marks the first time ASEAN's symbols have been projected onto a major national monument globally.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, noting deepening ties in areas such as trade, connectivity, digital linkages, and defense. The relationship between India and the 11-member bloc was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.

ASEAN, founded in 1967, now includes Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. As a single unit, the bloc represents a combined population of over 700 million and a GDP exceeding $4 trillion.