ASEAN Summit
India’s partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has evolved significantly over the years:
- 1992: India became a Sectoral Partner of ASEAN.
- 1996: It was elevated to a Dialogue Partner.
- 2002: India achieved Summit-level Partnership status.
In 2012, the relationship was further strengthened when it was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the substantial growth in India-ASEAN ties over the preceding two decades.
Act East Policy:
In 2014, India unveiled its Act East Policy, signaling its commitment to enhance its engagement with ASEAN Member States. The policy aims to deepen ties in the domains of Connectivity, Commerce, and Culture, promoting greater integration between ASEAN and India.
Milestones:
In 2017, India and ASEAN celebrated several milestones, marking 25 years of Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit-level interaction, and 5 years of the Strategic Partnership.
Areas of Cooperation:
- Economic Cooperation: ASEAN ranks as India’s fourth-largest trading partner. Bilateral agreements, such as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods (2009) and FTA in services and investments (2014), have facilitated concessional trade and increased investments.
- Political Cooperation: The ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) was established to conduct policy research, advocacy, and networking activities, fostering closer ties between India and ASEAN. The Delhi Dialogue is an annual event for discussions on politico-security and economic issues.
- Financial Assistance: India provides financial support to ASEAN nations through mechanisms like the ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund, and ASEAN-India Green Fund.
- Connectivity: India has undertaken various connectivity projects, including the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project. Plans for a Railway link between New Delhi in India and Hanoi in Vietnam are also in progress.
- Socio-Cultural Cooperation: Programs aimed at boosting People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN are regularly organized. These include inviting ASEAN students to India, offering Special Training Courses for ASEAN diplomats, and facilitating the exchange of Parliamentarians.
- Defence Cooperation: India conducts joint Naval and Military exercises with most ASEAN countries. Vietnam and Singapore stand out as significant partners in this regard.
- Maritime Cooperation: The Delhi Declaration has identified Cooperation in the Maritime Domain as a key area of cooperation under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. India is developing its maiden deep-sea port in the strategically located Sabang port in Indonesia.
Southeast Asian nations increasingly look to India to play a more significant role in the economic integration of the region and to ensure an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Many ASEAN members view India as a valuable counterbalance to China in the region.
ASEAN Summit
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, is an organization established in 1967 by the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Its primary purpose is to enhance economic growth, promote peace, enhance security, encourage social progress, and facilitate cultural development within the Southeast Asian region. ASEAN summit of 2023 is being held at Indonesia.
ASEAN’s History
On the 8th of August 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, the founding leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines signed the Bangkok Declaration, also known as the ASEAN Declaration. This historic event marked the official establishment of ASEAN. Over the years, ASEAN expanded its membership, and it currently comprises ten countries:
1. Thailand (founding member)
2. The Philippines (founding member)
3. Malaysia (founding member)
4. Singapore (founding member)
5. Indonesia (founding member)
6. Brunei (joined in 1984)
7. Vietnam (joined in 1995)
8. Lao PDR (joined in 1997)
9. Myanmar (joined in 1997)
10. Cambodia (joined in 1999)
ASEAN also has two observer states: Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste (East Timor).
ASEAN Headquarters
ASEAN’s headquarters are situated in Jakarta, Indonesia.
– Secretary-General: Dato Lim Jock Hoi
– Official Languages: Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese
– Working Language: English
ASEAN’s Purpose
The fundamental goals of ASEAN is :
1. Facilitating economic growth, cultural development, and social progress in the region through collaborative initiatives that prioritize partnership and equality, thus establishing a peaceful and robust Southeast Asian community.
2. Promoting peace and stability in the region by upholding principles of justice, the rule of law, and adherence to United Nations principles in international relations.
3. Encouraging active collaboration and mutual assistance across various domains, including social, economic, cultural, administrative, scientific, and technical areas.
4. Assisting member countries through educational, administrative, technical, and professional training and research facilities.
5. Cooperating to enhance agriculture and industries, expand trade (including addressing international commodity trade issues), improve communication and transportation infrastructure, and elevate living standards for the people.
6. Promoting Southeast Asian studies.
7. Exploring opportunities for further cooperation among member states and maintaining close collaboration with other international groups that share similar objectives.
ASEAN summit 2023 is being held at Jakarta,Indonesia.
