ASEAN, India to strengthen strategic partnership

ASEAN, India to strengthen strategic partnership

Source:  ASEAN Secretariat News

HANOI, 6 April 2018 – Senior Officials from ASEAN and India reaffirmed their strong commitment to further strengthen ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership at the 20^th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (AISOM) held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam today.

The Senior Officials discussed ways and means to further strengthen ASEAN-India practical cooperation as directed by the Leaders at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in January 2018. The cooperation areas include maritime cooperation, countering terrorism and violent extremism, addressing transnational crimes, cyber-security, business, trade and investment, connectivity, science and technology, agriculture and forestry, as well as climate change, environment, disaster management, education, cultural and people-to-people links.

The Meeting noted the encouraging progress made in the implementation of decisions made by the Leaders at the 15^th ASEAN-India Summit in November last year as well as the implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2016-2020). The Officials also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. India reaffirmed the importance of and its continued support for ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and SOM Leader of Viet Nam, and Mrs. Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs of India and SOM Leader of India. Senior representatives from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat also attended.

                                                                    ***