ASEAN, India bolster maritime cooperation, connectivity

Delegates at the ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (Photo: www.prokerala.com)

The information was publicised in a statement of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), following the ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), which took place in New Delhi on April 11-12.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vijay Thakur Singh, SOM Leader of India and Secretary (East) of the MEA, and Busaya Mathelin, SOM Leader and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

At the event, the two sides reviewed the ASEAN-India strategic partnership and its future direction.

They made their assessment on the progress of cooperation under all three political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars, while exchanging views on regional and international issues of shared concern.

They discussed ways and means to further deepen cooperation on financial matters as well as overall strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat.

They agreed to deepen maritime cooperation as decided at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2018 and to impart impetus to ASEAN-India connectivity, in all its forms.

The officials vowed to enhance cooperation in renewable energy and hold an ASEAN-India conference on renewable energy in 2019.

The MEA noted that the ASEAN-India partnership is being implemented through the “Plan of Action (2016-20) to carry out the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity”.

The two sides have obtained good progress along the 30 mechanisms to implement cooperation in the different sectors of ASEAN-India cooperation. A Calendar of ASEAN-India Activities for the year 2019 was announced at the meeting.