Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations
Context
- The Prime Minister and ASEAN leaders reviewed how the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has progressed so far and discussed plans for future cooperation in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Key Highlights
- PM announced a 10-point plan which includes:
- Celebrating the year 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism,
- To celebrate a decade of Act East Policy,
- Review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025 etc.
- The leaders declared that they would explore collaboration of cross-border linkages between payment systems in ASEAN and India through digital solutions.
- India will share its knowledge and experiences in using digital public infrastructure (DPI) such as Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the ASEAN nations.
- The leaders agreed to create a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) and adopted Two Joint Statements;
- Joint Statement on Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region in the context of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with the Support of India’s Act East Policy (AEP),
- Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation.
- Leaders welcomed the launch of the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future to support joint activities.
- The PM of India emphasized the need to complete the review of ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) in a time bound manner.
| ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA) – India signed an FTA in goods with ASEAN in 2009, which came into force in 2010. a. A separate FTA in services was signed in 2014. – The FTA between India and ASEAN is also known as the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA). – The pact resulted in disproportionate benefits for ASEAN. |
Significance of ASEAN for India
- Counter China’s Influence: ASEAN’s strategic location makes it a critical partner for balancing China’s growing influence in the region.
- Trade and Investment: In 2021-2022, trade between India and ASEAN stood at around $110 billion. ASEAN countries are also a significant destination for Indian investments.
- Indo-Pacific Region: ASEAN is central to India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to promote a free, open, and rules-based order in the region.
- India’s Act East Policy places ASEAN at its core to enhance connectivity, maritime cooperation, and economic engagement.
- Counter-Terrorism: India collaborates with ASEAN on counter-terrorism, transnational crime, and cybersecurity initiatives. These efforts are crucial in maintaining regional security.
- Connectivity and Infrastructure: Initiatives such as the India -Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project aim to improve physical connectivity between India and ASEAN, promoting trade and economic integration.
- ASEAN-led Mechanisms: India is part of key ASEAN-led platforms like the;
- East Asia Summit (EAS),
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and
- ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which are vital for fostering regional dialogue on strategic issues.
| Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – About: It is a political and economic organization aimed primarily at promoting economic growth and regional stability among its members. – Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. – History: It was established in 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. a. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. – ASEAN Summit: It is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States.Summit is held twice annually. a. The First ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976. |
Way Ahead
- The Summit represents a milestone in ASEAN-India relations, with both sides reaffirming their strategic and economic importance to one another.
- India’s sustained engagement with ASEAN, through its Act East Policy, will continue to shape the regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific, aligning with ASEAN’s Outlook and the broader goals of regional stability and prosperity.
Source: PIB
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