Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), visited Cambodia from August 03-04, 2022, and attended the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIFMM) 2022, an annual event that reviews the ASEAN-India partnership, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital.
ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AIFMM) 2022
i. AIFMM 2022 was co-chaired by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and H.E Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Foreign Minister, and attended by Foreign Ministers/representatives from other ASEAN member states.
ii.EAM urged for further Indo-Pacific cooperation between India and ASEAN, citing the strong convergence between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
iii. The meeting also emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea region.
iv.EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met with Cambodian Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Hun Sen during his visit and discussed bilateral and global issues of mutual concern.
EAM also had bilateral interactions with his following counterparts:
H.E. Mr. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America (USA); Senator The Hon. Penny Wong, Foreign Minister of Australia; H. E. Mr. Ali Sabry, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka; H. E. Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Cambodia.
Other Related Meetings Held during AIFMM 2022
On 05 August 2022, Two ASEAN related Ministerial Meetings were also held in Phnom Penh. The Indian delegation at these meetings was led by Secretary (East).
They two events are
- The 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2022
- The 29th ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting 2022.
The 29th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) 2022 exchanged views on international and regional issues, as well as future direction of the ARF. It adopted two statements:
- The ARF Statement on Promoting Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region through Preventive Measures
- The ARF Statement on Supporting the Preservation of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ)
As part of its engagement with ARF, India co-chaired the 13th ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security on May 12, 2022, and will co-chair the workshop series on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) from 2022 to 2023.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok Declaration).
Purpose: To accelerate the economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the South Asian region, & promote regional peace and stability.
Members – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
Dialogue Partners of ASEAN – Australia, Canada, China, European Union (EU), India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and United States (US).
Cambodia received the privilege of serving as the ASEAN Chair for the third time in 2022, following its two previous terms in 2002 & 2012.
ASEAN’s 2022 chairmanship theme – ‘ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together’
Note: August 8 is observed as ASEAN Day.
India – ASEAN: A 30 years Relationship
i. The ASEAN-India dialogue relationship began in 1992 with the formation of a sectoral partnership, which progressed to a full dialogue partnership in December 1995.
- They were finally transformed to a summit level partnership in 2002 and in 2012, the relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership.
ii.ASEAN is a powerful alliance that is vital to India’s Act East Policy and its vision on the wider Indo-Pacific.
iii. On June 16-17, 2022, India hosted the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Secretary General for a 2-day Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SAIFMM) 2022 for the first time in New Delhi, Delhi, to commemorate 30 years of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations and the 10th anniversary of India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.
- S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), and Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, the Foreign Minister of Singapore, co-chaired the SAIFMM 2022.
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, will serve as India’s ASEAN country coordinator from 2021 to 2024.
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar Visits 12th Century Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia
On the sidelines of the AIFMM 2022, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar visited the 12th century heritage sites of Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is in-charge of the restoration and conservation work at these cultural heritage sites
- Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of EU, & EAM met at the Ta Prohm temple conservation site.
EAM also visited the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Asian Traditional Textile Museum in Siem Reap, which was established by India, Cambodia, and other MGC countries.
INDIA ASEAN Trade Summit 2022 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka: Launched the book “REIMAGINING SOUTH ASIA”
On August 03, 2022, the India-ASEAN Trade Summit 2022 took place on the premises of Reva University in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- It was organized by Reva University, and was attended by envoys from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
Dignitaries
Bounneme Chounaghome, Ambassador of Laos (Chief Guest); Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar (Main Guest); Ung Sean, Ambassador of Cambodia; Anil Trigunayat, former Indian Ambassador; Dr P Shyama Raju, Chancellor of REVA University; Dr M Dhanamjaya, Vice Chancellor, REVA University; Dr Asif Iqbal, President, Indian Economic Trade Organization; Rao Munukuntla, CEO, Bangalore Airport City Limited; Harsh Vardhan IRS, Chief Convenor; Professor D R Ranganathan, Honorary consul of Mayanmar.
Launch of the Book: “REIMAGINING SOUTH ASIA”
The book “REIMAGINING SOUTH ASIA“, written by Professor Dr. Nagalakshmi M. Raman, Head of the Amity Institute of International Studies, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was released by dignitaries at the India-ASEAN Trade Summit 2022.
- The foreword to the book was penned by Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, IFS (Indian Foreign Service).
- The book explores the current geopolitical environment and the diverse viewpoints of various think tanks.
Dr. P. Shyama Raju, Chancellor of REVA University, has been appointed as the Trade Commissioner of Karnataka for INDIA ASEAN TRADE.
About Kingdom of Cambodia:
Prime Minister (PM) – Hun Sen
Capital – Phnom Penh
Currency – Cambodian Riel
