Context:
Recently, the 21st ASEAN-India Summit took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on October 10, 2024, marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy.
Key Highlights of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit
- At the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, the Indian Prime Minister emphasized India’s steadfast support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
- By calling the 21st century as the “Asian century,” PM underscored the critical role of India-ASEAN ties in shaping Asia’s future.
- PM underlined the need to complete the review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) in a time-bound manner towards harnessing greater economic potential for the benefit of the ASEAN-India community.
- In alignment with the ASEAN Chair’s theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” PM announced a 10-point plan which includes:
- Celebrating 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, with a commitment of USD 5 million for joint activities
- Commemorating a decade of the Act East Policy through various people-centric initiatives, including Youth Summits and Start-up Festivals
- Organizing the ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave
- Doubling scholarships at Nalanda University and introducing new scholarships at Indian agricultural universities
- Reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) by 2025
- Allocating USD 5 million to enhance disaster resilience.
- Initiating a Health Ministers’ track to build health resilience
- Establishing an ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue
- Workshop on Green Hydrogen
- Launching the ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign to promote climate resilience
Future Plan of Action (2026-2030):
- Leaders agreed to develop a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) aimed at further enhancing their partnership.
- Two joint statements were adopted:
A joint statement on strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
A joint statement on advancing digital transformation, recognizing India’s pivotal role in digital public infrastructure.
About the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- It is a regional grouping that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Establishment: It was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
- 8th August is observed as ASEAN Day
- Motto: The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
- At the 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia (2022), Timor-Leste joined the ASEAN as an Observer. ASEAN has agreed in principle to accept Timor-Leste as its 11th member.
- ASEAN countries have a total population of 662 million people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.2 trillion as of 2022.
- ASEAN has an anthem, a flag and biannual summits (twice a year) with a rotating chairmanship.
- Secretariat: The ASEAN Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia
Brief on ASEAN-India Relations
- Formal Engagement: India began its formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner, upgrading to a Dialogue Partner in 1995 and to a Summit-level Partner in 2002.
- The first ASEAN-India Summit was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2002.
- Strategic Partnership: The Dialogue Partnership was elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the 20th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in 2012, and further enhanced to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in 2022.
- Maritime Cooperation Focus: At the 25-year Commemorative Summit in 2018, India and ASEAN agreed to focus their Strategic Partnership on enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.
- ASEAN-India Friendship Year: The year 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations, designated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year by leaders in October 2021.
- Bilateral Trade Growth: India and ASEAN recorded a two-way trade of $131.50 billion in 2022-23, with ASEAN accounting for 11.3% of India’s global trade.