South-East Asian leaders attend India's Republic Day parade

India seeking to strengthen 25-year-old ties with South-East Asian bloc as a counterweight to China

The Indian military's ASC Tornadoes daredevil bike team performs in Bangalore during India's 69th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2018. Republic Day marks India's adoption of its constitution after independence from British rule. Jagadeesh NV / EPA

A dance troupe performs at Republic Day celebrations in Amritsar. Narinder Nanu / AFP

Indian school children pose with the national flag in Amritsar. Narinder Nanu / AFP

A member of the Assam police force performs a motorcycle stunt in the state capital Gauhati. Anupam Nath / AP Photo

Indian soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Adnan Abidi / Reuters

A member of Assam's police force jumps through a ring of fire in Gauhati. Anupam Nath / AP Photo

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) women’s motorcycle team, Seema Bhawani, takes part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Prakash Singh / AFP

The BSF Seema Bhawani motorcycle team performs in New Delhi on January 26, 2018. Prakash Singh / AFP

The BSF motorcycle team Seema Bhawani performs in New Delhi on January 26, 2018. Ptakash Singh / AFP

Soldiers perform motorcycle at Red Road in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. Piyal Adhikary / EPA

An Indian army contingent marches through New Delhi on January 26, 2018. Money Sharma / AFP

The EIR 21, the world's oldest working steam locomotive, takes part in an event to mark Republic Day in Chennai on January 26, 2018. Arun Sankar / AFP

School students perform a peacock dance during Republic Day celebrations in Chennai. Arun Sankar / AFP

An Indian Air Force unit marches in Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Harish Tyagi / EPA

Members of the Seema Surksha Bal paramilitary force takes part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Harish Tyagi / EPA

Shwetha Ashwas of the Indian Military Police performs stunts during Republic Day celebrations in Bangalore on January 26, 2018. Manjunath Kiran / AFP

Soldiers march in the Republic Day parade at Red Road in Kolkata. Piyal Adhikary / EPA

An Indian Air Force float with a model of a Rafale French fighter jet takes part in the Republic Day parade in Kolkata. Piyal Adhikary / EPA

A soldier marches beside a tableau during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Adnan Abidi / Reuters

The army's ASC Tornadoes daredevil bike team performs in Bangalore. Jagadeesh NV / EPA

Women of the Jammu and Kashmir police force take part Republic Day celebrations in Srinagar, the Indian state's summer capital. Farooq Khan / EPA

Paramilitary soldiers take part in the celebrations in Srinagar. Farooq Khan / EPA

School students perform during parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2018. Money Sharma / AFP

Delhi Police officers march take part the 69th Republic Day celebrations. Harish Tyagi / EPA

BSF stunt riders take part in the parade in New Delhi. Money Sharma / AFP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to spectators after the end of Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Money Sharma / AFP

School students perform during the parade in New Delhi. Money Sharma / AFP

A float representing Jammu and Kahsmir travels down the Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26, 2018. Harish Tyagi / EPA

A tableau presented by the state of Maharashtra travels along the Rajpath. Harish Tyagi / EPA

A float presented by the Indian ministry of sports takes part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Harish Tyagi

South-East Asian leaders watched as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on Friday with a parade of marching bands, military hardware, floats from Indian states, stunt riders and aerial displays.

Flags of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) fluttered at the 90-minute parade through the tree-lined roads of central Delhi. The celebrations mark the day India's constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, three years after it won independence from Britain.

The leaders of Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia were invited by prime minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the 25th anniversary of India-Asean ties.

India is seeking to deepen bonds with its eastern neighbours amid its wariness over China's growing influence in the region.

With competing territorial claims in the Asia-Pacific region, Mr Modi said India favoured a "rules-based order for the oceans and seas" and respect for International law. He was speaking at the plenary session of the India-Asean summit on Thursday.

China's building of artificial islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety, has alarmed Asean. But China's economic and political clout has also divided the bloc over how to deal with an assertive Beijing.

Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said there was "significant potential" for expanding trade and economic cooperation between India and Asean.

"South-East Asia and India together represent a quarter of the world's population, about 1.8 billion people, and a combined GDP of more than 4 and a half trillion US dollars," he said.

A declaration at the end of the summit on Thursday reaffirmed the importance of promoting maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. It also underlined the lawful uses of the seas and maritime commerce and called for peaceful resolutions of disputes.

India invited Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to be guest of honour at the Republic Day parade last year, while French president Francois Hollande was the guest leader in 2016, and US president Barack Obama the year before that.