- The objective of the meet was to review the status of ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership in areas of maritime cooperation, connectivity, education & capacity building and people-to-people contacts.
- The discussions were also held to strengthen cooperation to fight COVID-19 pandemic and exchanged views on important regional and international developments.
Key Points regarding review of ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership:
-The progress was reviewed for implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2016-2020).
-The meeting also reviewed the preparations for the upcoming 17th ASEAN-India Summit and the progress in the implementation of key decisions of the Leaders of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and India at the 16th ASEAN-India Summit held in Bangkok in November 2019 and the previous Summits.
Adoption of ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025)
The meet saw an adoption of ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025) for 5 years which envisages greater cooperation in areas including trade, maritime security and counter-terrorism. Through this plan both sides will work towards the ASEAN 2025 vision that narrows the development gap and enhances connectivity. Following the key highlights from plan:
- Both sides will also cooperate on common challenges and enhance coordination at international forums.
- The plan envisages India’s active participation and co-chairing of joint exercises and activities, and strengthening of practical defence cooperation to address challenges in maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, and cyber-security.
- The two sides will also promote freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce, the non-use of force, and the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- In the field of economic cooperation, the two sides will continue efforts to make the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) more user-friendly by initiating a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and work towards ratification of the ASEAN-India Investment Agreement to facilitate further economic integration.
- The plan will also expedite the completion of relevant sections of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and provide support in building an economic corridor along it and its extension to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Points to be note:
-The ASEAN region along with India together comprises a combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population, and their combined GDP has been estimated at over USD 3.8 trillion.
-Investment from ASEAN to Indian has been over USD 70 billion in the last 17 years accounting for more than 17% of India’s total FDI (foreign direct investment).
Recent Related News:
The 3rd India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) youth dialogue 2020 was held virtually on June 8-10, 2020 focusing on coronavirus pandemic. The meet has regarded the youth as “vehicles of change” who are playing a pivotal role by leading the fight against the pandemic. It should be noted that India has 65% of its population below 35 years i.e. the largest number of young people in the world.
About ASEAN:
2020 Chairmanship– Vietnam
Chairman– Nguyen Xuan Phuc
Secretariat – Jakarta, Indonesia
Secretary General– Dato Lim Jock Hoi
Membership– 10 States ― Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 1 Observer – Papua New Guinea