Question: Which nation hosted the 16th East Asia Summit held virtually on 27th October 2021?
a) India
b) Brunei
c) China
d) Indonesia
Ans: b
Recent Context
- The 16th East Asia Summit was hosted by Brunei as EAS and ASEAN Chair.
- Related Facts
- Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the importance of EAS as the premier leaders-led forum in Indo-Pacific, bringing together nations to discuss important strategic issues.
- Prime Minister highlighted India’s efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic through vaccines and medical supplies.
- He also spoke about “Atmanirbhar Bharat” Campaign for post-pandemic recovery and in ensuring resilient global value chains.
- He emphasized on the establishment of a better balance between economy and ecology and climate sustainable lifestyle.
- Summit saw the participation of leaders from ASEAN countries and other EAS Participating Countries including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, USA and India. India has been an active participant of EAS.
- About East Asia Summit
- The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
- Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia and the United States at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
- Since its establishment, ASEAN has held the central role and leadership in the forum.
- About ASEAN
- ASEAN officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is an economic union comprising 10 member states in Southeast Asia.
- Group promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration between its members and other countries in Asia.
- ASEAN was preceded by an organisation formed on 31 July 1961 called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), a group consisting of Thailand, the Philippines, and the Federation of Malaya.
- ASEAN itself was created on 8 August 1967, when the foreign ministers of five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, signed the ASEAN Declaration.
- Currently it consist of 10 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
By Kameshwar Shukla