In Duterte, PM finds Aadhaar admirer

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, January 25

India’s unique identification system Aadhaar, though shrouded in controversies at home, has found a keen taker in the Philippines government.

At a series of bilateral conversations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with visiting leaders along the sidelines of the India-ASEAN summit, Aadhaar was a key conversation topic between Modi and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

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Duterte, whose flight had to be delayed following a volcanic eruption in his country, believes Aadhaar could be used as a tool against corruption. “The Philippines President evinced keen interest in the Aadhaar system and on using it as a tool for financial inclusion and to fight corruption. Our Prime Minister said he would be happy to offer expertise to replicate the system… Last week, a delegation had come from the Philippines to understand the Aadhaar system,” said Preeti Saran, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs. 

Terrorism, with a focus on urban terror, also figured in the conversation. Duterte spoke of drug trafficking and international linkages in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A joint working group will meet in March to discuss cooperation in drugs and pharmaceutical sector.

While conversing about cooperation in building ships and off-shore patrol vessels as well as the oil sector, Duterte praised the positive role of the Indian community. “He told our PM that he had grown up with Indians and is familiar with Indian culture and their commitment to hard work,” said Saran.

With Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand, Modi’s talks focussed on connectivity and tourism. Vietnam will pass on the mantle of country coordinator of ASEAN for India to Thailand this July onwards, making the Prayut government an important mediator. The two sides stressed on enhancing defence and maritime security cooperation, including coastal patrolling and tourism.

Modi also held bilateral talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsein Loong and accepted an invitation to attend the flagship ‘Shangri La Dialogue’ in June as the chief guest. 

Meanwhile, India’s RuPay and Singapore’s FinTech are looking at ways to decrease transaction cost and work towards a cashless economy, said senior MEA officials.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phan attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the new headquarters of the Embassy of Vietnam in Delhi.