Indian Mission to ASEAN

Jakarta

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Excerpts of ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference(PMC)+1 sessions with India held on 04 August, 2022.

64. The ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of India.
65. The Meeting noted the good progress of ASEAN-India dialogue relations made under the ASEAN-India Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025). The Meeting appreciated the fact that action on more than 85 per cent of activities had already been taken. The Meeting encouraged both sides to maximise efforts in implementing the remaining activities under this Plan of Action as well as other existing initiatives with ASEAN.
66. Recognising 2022 as the “ASEAN-India Friendship Year”, the Meeting recalled several key activities which marks the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations such as the unveiling of the 30th Anniversary Logo, the 7th Roundtable edition of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT), the ASEAN-India Media Exchange, Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN-India High Level Conference on Renewable Energy. The Meeting also looked forward to implementing the remaining activities planned to celebrate this occasion.
67. The Meeting expressed appreciation for India’s long-standing partnership with ASEAN towards peace, stability and prosperity in the region and its strong commitment to upholding ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms. The Meeting recalled the Leaders’ adoption of the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region and looked forward to its effective implementation through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
68. The Meeting welcomed the proposed visit of ASEAN Parliamentary Delegation coordinated by AIPA to India, the first upcoming ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in November 2022 in Siem Reap and the ADMM’s in-principle approval of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise as well as the practical cooperation in the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups including the proposed ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.
69. The Meeting appreciated India’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the region, including through India’s contribution of USD 1 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund as well as its vaccine contribution to countries in the region bilaterally and through various initiatives, including ASEAN. The Meeting also agreed to cooperate in vaccine production and distribution, research and innovation in generic medicines, cooperation on traditional medicines, strengthening public health infrastructure; and enhancing capacities for preparedness and response to the pandemic and public health emergencies.
70. The Meeting emphasised the importance of strengthening ASEAN-India connectivity partnership, both physical and digital, including the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and exploring synergies between MPAC 2025 and India’s Act East Policy in line with the “Connecting Connectivities” approach. The Meeting looked forward to the timely completion and operationalisation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and its possible extension to Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam. The Meeting also looked forward to the increased utilisation of India’s USD1 billion Line of Credit for supporting physical and digital connectivity projects in the region.
71. The Meeting committed to further strengthening ASEAN-India economic relations, including through ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) and looked forward to launching the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), to make it more user-friendly, simple, and trade facilitative for businesses, as well as support of sustainable and inclusive growth. ASEAN underscored that the door for India to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement is always open.
72. The Meeting appreciated India's partnership in development assistance to ASEAN and encouraged India’s continued support in narrowing the development gap in ASEAN, especially through the IAI Work Plan IV (2021- 2025), addressing the promotion of collaboration on the digital development, cybersecurity, fintech cooperation, smart agriculture, safe and sustainable tourism, climate change, sustainable development, education, and people linkages, among others. The Meeting welcomed India’s support for ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening sub-regional cooperation, including through the Mekong-Ganga cooperation, contribute to narrowing the development gap, promoting equitable and sustainable development across ASEAN. The Meeting also welcomed India’s interest in collaborating with the ACSDSD and looked forward to enhancing collaboration in promoting complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addressing climate change, and promoting clean energy transition.
73. The Meeting welcomed India’s proposed ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) that is meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial. The Meeting looked forward to establishing the ASEAN-India CSP at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in November 2022.