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Recently, the Prime Minister participated in the 17th ASEAN-India Summit at the invitation of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam, the current Chair of ASEAN
Key highlights of the summit
- During the summit, the Prime Minister underlined the centrality of ASEAN in India’s Act East Policy.
- He noted that a cohesive, responsive and prosperous ASEAN is central to India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and contributes to Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
- He also underscored the importance of strengthening convergence between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, to ensure a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
- The Prime Minister invited the ASEAN countries to cooperate on various pillars of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
- During the virtual summit the Prime Minister announced a contribution of US$ 1 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.
- He also highlighted the importance of greater physical and digital connectivity between ASEAN and India and reiterated India’s offer of US$ 1 billion Line of Credit to support ASEAN connectivity
- During the summit leaders also welcomed the adoption of the new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2021-2025.
- The discussions also covered regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including the South China Sea and terrorism.
- Both sides noted the importance of promoting a rules-based order in the region including through upholding adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS.
About ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam (1984), VietNam (1995), Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999), joined the ASEAN later.
About Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
- In the year 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) at the East Asia Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand.
- As an open global initiative, the IPOI draws on existing regional cooperation architecture and mechanisms to focus on seven central pillars conceived around:
- Maritime Security; Maritime Ecology; Maritime Resources; Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport
Source: PIB
