India Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Sunday said Republic Day celebration in 2018 would be
"remembered through the ages" because the government for the first
time in India's history would host leaders of 10 Asean countries as chief
guests on 26 January.
"The
Republic Day will be celebrated with leaders of all 10 (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) Asean countries coming to India as chief guests. This
time, not one but 10 chief guests would grace the Republic Day. This is
unprecedented in India's history," the Prime Minister said.He said the year 2017 was
special for both Asean and India because the Southeast Asian bloc completed its
50 years of formation and the year also marked 25 years of India's partnership
with the grouping."India looks forward to
welcoming leaders" from Asean comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
