Jaishankar Greets ASEAN delegation, Vows Stronger Strategic Partnership Growth
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar convened with ASEAN Senior Officials in the capital, affirming his belief in the enduring growth of the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. Emphasizing the significance of ASEAN-India gatherings in India's diplomatic agenda, EAM Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in welcoming ASEAN Senior Officials to New Delhi.
"Glad to be apprised of the progress in our cooperation The ASEAN-India meetings are a significant feature of India's diplomatic calendar. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will grow from strength to strength", Jaishankar stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) constitutes an inter-governmental international organization, comprising Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, and Malaysia.
"The delegation of Senior Officials' from ASEAN, Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat jointly called on S Jaishankar. While underlining that ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India's Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific, EAM encouraged the delegation to focus on subjects of critical importance and specific outcomes, including early completion of review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and regional issues of mutual interest", the MEA said in a statement.
In the previous month, advocating for increased collaboration between India and ASEAN nations, Jaishankar underscored the potential for the two sides to significantly contribute to the evolving regional framework of the Indo-Pacific through enhanced cooperation.
"We support ASEAN unity, ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN outlook on Indo-Pacific. India truly believes that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific", EAM Jaishankar said in a virtual address at the first ASEAN Future Forum.
"The synergy between India's Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN outlook on Indo Pacific (AOIP) that is reflected in our ASEAN India leaders joint statement provides a strong framework for cooperation, including and addressing challenges to comprehensive security", he added.
Significantly, India plays an active role in numerous 'ASEAN-led frameworks'. Specifically, India regularly engages in gatherings such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting+ (ADMM+), and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) meetings along with their associated processes.
