Asean, India to promote strategic partnership

A meeting of member states of the Association of South East Asian nations (Asean) and India in Vientaine, Laos, on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to promote the Asean-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region.

The meeting also reaffirmed the resolve of all participating nations to uphold multilateralism and respect for international laws as laid out in the UN Charter, while recognising the rising relevance of Asean in the emerging multipolar global architecture and the active role of India in international economic and political affairs.

The meeting reaffirmed the nations’ resolve to promote peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. They also decided to promote unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and peaceful resolutions of disputes, in accordance with international law.

The meeting also called for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The nations decided to build on the ongoing collaboration in maritime security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, military medicine, transnational crime tracking, defence industry, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping and demining operations and confidence building measures. This will be achieved through the exchange of visits, joint military exercise, maritime exercise, port calls by naval ships and defence scholarships.

The meeting also decided on an early implementation of maritime cooperation, including in areas of maritime security, blue economy, sustainable fisheries, marine environmental protection, marine biodiversity, and climate change issues.

The nations will also pursue common goals and promote initiatives for sustainable development that benefits all.

India and Asean will undertake an early review of the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more effective, user-friendly, trade-facilitative and relevant to the current global trading practices.

Besides promoting diverse, secure, transparent and resilient supply chains, Asean and India will cooperate on emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain technology, Internet of Things, Robotics, Quantum Computing, 6-G technology, building and strengthening of startups ecosystem with special emphasis on digital connectivity and financial technology.

The meeting welcomed the launch of the Asean-India Fund for Digital Future to support joint activities that would help unlock the full potential of safe, secure and responsible AI that has the potential for expanding the global digital economy. 

The meeting also took note of the proposal to celebrate the year 2025 as the Asean-India Year of Tourism to further strengthen people-to-people ties. This will lead to exchange of trends in tourism and promote investment opportunities in tourism.

The meeting also delved upon strengthening health systems by enhancing collaboration on public health including, inter alia, in the areas of research and development (R&D), training of professionals, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, vaccine security as well as general and traditional medicine.

Further, the meeting decided to enhance cooperation in the field of environment, including biodiversity and climate change as well as explore cooperation in the field of energy security, including cooperation on clean, renewable, and low-carbon energy.