New Delhi: For India, ASEAN is the cornerstone of its Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision that was thereafter built on it, says External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar on Friday. In his remarks at the opening session of the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Dr Jaishankar said, "The priority that India attaches to ASEAN and EAS platforms is evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Jakarta last year on the very eve of our own G20 Summit. He had announced a 12-point plan that has been largely acted upon."
He said, "For India, ASEAN is the cornerstone of its Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision that was thereafter built on it. For us, political, economic and security cooperation with ASEAN is of the utmost priority. So, too, are people-to-people linkages, that we are constantly seeking to expand," he said.
"It is encouraging to note that our partnership acquires ever more dimensions with each passing year. While our achievements are substantial, our ambitions must always remain high," he added. "Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that we will open an Embassy in Dili. We are proceeding to do so very soon and in fact, will be undertaking high-level visits there as well," he said.
He congratulated Lao PDR for the chairmanship of ASEAN and extended India's fullest support for the successful Chairmanship. Jaishankar’s visit to Laos is of utmost significance as this year marks a decade of India's Act East Policy, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014, the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi ahead of his visit.
The 'Act East Policy' is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It's a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 countries in Southeast Asia, established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand. ASEAN aims to promote economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and regional peace among its member states.
The relationship between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and India is significant and multifaceted. India has historical and cultural ties with Southeast Asia dating back centuries, through trade, cultural exchanges and religious interactions.ASEAN and India established a strategic partnership in 2012, reflecting their shared interests in regional stability, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.
It is pertinent to note that India and ASEAN are major trading partners. In 2009, they signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods, which aims to reduce tariffs and enhance trade. Negotiations are ongoing to further liberalise trade in services and investments.
India is involved in connectivity projects with ASEAN, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, aimed at enhancing physical infrastructure and economic integration.
Read more: Northeast’s Role in India-ASEAN Trade Framework: Potential and Challenges
