ASEAN and India intensify their Global Strategic Partnership

The 26th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (AISOM), held in New Delhi, welcomed the positive development of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and shared mutual commitment to further grow relations.

The meeting was co-chaired by Albert Chua, head of SOM ASEAN-Singapore, and Jaideep Mazumdar, head of SOM India. In attendance were senior officials from ASEAN Member States (AMS) or their representatives, the Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Political and Security Community, as well as representatives from East Timor, which attended as an observer.

The Senior Officials exchanged views on developments in ASEAN and India, and reviewed cooperation between both sides in the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. Both sides welcomed the implementation of all measures of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA) 2021-2025. Senior Officials also look forward to the development of a new POA (2026-2030) that will guide both parties in realizing the full potential of the CSP for the next five years.

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The meeting expressed mutual interest in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity, and encouraged both sides to strive to realize the implementation of the ASEAN-India Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the ASEAN Outlook on India -Pacific for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region and the ASEAN-India Joint Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, through projects and activities.

The Senior Officials took note of the positive development of bilateral trade in recent years. They welcomed efforts to initiate the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). ASEAN expressed its appreciation for India’s continued support to the ASEAN education sector through the provision of Scholarship Funds for students from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, and AMS pursuing master’s and postgraduate studies in the Nalanda University.

Both sides exchanged views on issues of common interest and concern, including situations and developments in the South China Sea, Myanmar and the Middle East.

Senior Officials exchanged views on developments in ASEAN and India

Following the conclusion of the 26th AISOM, all ASEAN SOM leaders or their representatives, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN and East Timor paid a joint courtesy call on the Foreign Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar. In this meeting, the Minister underlined the importance of ASEAN for India, and that the ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings are significant elements of India’s diplomatic calendar.

He also underlined the need for ASEAN and India to collaborate to make the partnership more robust with substantive cooperation, including working together under the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook and the Indian Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, as Both parties share a strategic perspective. Furthermore, he called for a rapid review and update of AITIGA.