India, Asean adopt 5-yr plan of action
NEW DELHI: India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Saturday adopted the plan of action for 2021-25 that envisages greater cooperation in areas ranging from trade to maritime security and counter-terrorism.
The plan of action is expected to help the two sides work towards the vision of an economically integrated and rulesbased grouping that narrows the development gap and enhances connectivity. Both sides will also cooperate on common challenges and enhance coordination at international forums.
The virtual Asean-India ministerial meeting was co-chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.
The meeting, attended by the foreign ministers of the 10 Asean states, also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The meeting reviewed the Asean-India strategic partnership in several areas, including maritime cooperation. It reviewed preparations for the upcoming Asean-India Summit and progress in implementing key decisions made at the last summit in November 2019.
Under the new plan of action, the two sides will further strengthen the East Asia Summit “as a premier leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political and economic issues...with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region”.
The plan envisages India’s active participation and co-chairing of joint exercises and activities, and strengthening of practical defence cooperation to address challenges in maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, and cyber-security.
Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan also participated in a virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on Saturday under the chairmanship of Vietnam.
The ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues, and Muraleedharan presented India’s perspectives on the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, threat of terrorism, and cooperation for a collective response to Covid-19.