India, ASEAN nations to strengthen relations over post-covid recovery, commerce and connectivity.(photo:IN)
Laos will assume the chairmanship from January 1 to December 31, 2024…reports Asian Lite News
Preparations are underway for Laos to host the next ASEAN summit in 2024, with a national-level meeting convened at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the arrangements, local media reported on Friday.
The meeting was chaired by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Xinhua news agency quoted local daily Vientiane Times as saying.
A national committee, responsible for arranging accommodations and vehicles, preparing the summit venue, delegating duties to officials, preparing a budget, and deciding on the content of the summit, has reviewed the preparations to date.
Accordingly, some 14 sub-committees have been appointed to supervise preparations for the summit.
They will be responsible for arranging meeting venues, readying hotels and restaurants, putting up promotional materials around capital Vientiane, repairing roads, and ensuring communication systems.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Industry and Commerce; and Information, Culture and Tourism have been entrusted to prepare the contents and agenda of the summit.
The focus of discussions will be the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, when Laos will assume the chair of ASEAN in 2024, said the daily report.
Laos will assume the chairmanship from January 1 to December 31, 2024.
On Friday, the ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th ASEAN member…reports Asian Lite News
The 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Cambodia concluded on Sunday, achieving fruitful results for greater regional cooperation towards post Covid pandemic socio-economic recovery.
“Within these four days, we have had a comprehensive and productive discussion on the way forward to strengthen ASEAN centrality and our value in relation with our external partners, particularly at a time when the world is facing the fast evolving complex regional and international issue,” Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at the closing ceremony of the four-day summits.
A total of 70 outcome documents and declarations covering the three pillars of ASEAN communities were adopted and noted at the summits, with various cooperation frameworks with dialogue partners endorsed, said Hun Sen, Xinhua News Agency reported.
For the ASEAN community building, the summits adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the 55th Anniversary of ASEAN, the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on ASEAN A.C.T: Addressing Challenges Together, and the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Agenda, he said.
On Friday, the ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th ASEAN member, according to an ASEAN leaders’ statement.
“I would like to stress that ASEAN centrality is the primarily driving force for substantive dialogue and collaboration with our external partners through various ASEAN-led mechanisms,” Hun Sen said.
At the closing ceremony, Hun Sen handed over the gavel of the ASEAN Chair to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ASEAN leaders appreciated India’s role as a trusted partner in the region especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic with its supply of vaccines…reports Asian Lite News.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underlined the centrality of ASEAN in India’s Act East Policy and in India’s vision for the wider Indo-Pacific vision. He said this while participating in the 18th India-ASEAN Summit at the invitation of King of Brunei, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Chair of ASEAN.
“The unity and centrality of ASEAN has always been an important priority for India. This special role of ASEAN, India’s Act East Policy which is contained in our Security and Growth for All in the Region i.e. “SAGAR” policy. India’s Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN’s outlook for the Indo-Pacific–are the framework for our shared vision and mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Modi also maintained that history is witness that India and ASEAN have had vibrant relations for thousands of years. “This is also reflected in our shared values, traditions, languages, texts, architecture, culture and cuisine,” the Prime Minister said.
He also said that the year 2022 will mark the completion of 30 years of India-ASEAN partnership and India will also complete seventy-five years of its independence.
“I am very happy that we will celebrate this important milestone as the ‘Year of ASEAN-India Friendship’. India is committed to further strengthen ties under the forthcoming Presidency of Cambodia and our Country Coordinator, Singapore,” the Prime Minister said.
The Summit was held virtually and saw participation from the Leaders of ASEAN member states.
Building upon the synergies between the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), Prime Minister Modi and ASEAN leaders welcomed the adoption of the India-ASEAN Joint Statement on cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
On COVID-19, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic in the region and also reiterated support for ASEAN’s initiatives in this regard.
The ASEAN leaders appreciated India’s role as a trusted partner in the region especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic with its supply of vaccines.
India has contributed medical supplies worth USD 200,000 to ASEAN’s humanitarian initiative for Myanmar and USD 1 million for ASEAN’s Covid-19 Response Fund.
The leaders exchanged views on enhancing India-ASEAN connectivity in broadest terms including physical, digital and people to people.
To further strengthen India-ASEAN cultural connectivity, Prime Minister Modi announced India’s support for establishing the ASEAN Cultural Heritage List.
Prime Minister @narendramodi co-chairs the 18th India-ASEAN Summit
PM underlines the centrality of ASEAN in India's Act East Policy and in India's Vision for the wider Indo-Pacific Vision
On trade and investment, he underlined the importance of diversification and resilience of supply chains for post-COVID economic recovery and in this regard, the need to revamp the India-ASEAN FTA.
They also welcomed India’s support to ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific and looked forward to greater India-ASEAN cooperation in the region through the joint statement.
The discussions also covered regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including South China Sea and terrorism.
Both sides noted the importance of promoting a rules-based order in the region including through upholding adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS.
'Cooperation in #Covid19…': PM @narendramodi shares playbook to strengthen ties at 18th India-ASEAN summit
Modi said history is witness to the fact that India and Asean have had relations for thousands of years. pic.twitter.com/ErkXKb2Ccg
The leaders affirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, safety and security in the South China Sea, and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight.
India and ASEAN share a deep, robust and multifaceted relationship and the 18th India-ASEAN Summit provided an opportunity to review the various facets of this relationship and give a direction to the future of the India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership at the highest level.
