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Serbia, Panama, Kuwait Sign ASEAN’s Amity Treaty

With the three countries joining the treaty, the ASEAN will have a total of 54 countries as the parties to its TAC…reports Asian Lite News

Serbia, Panama, and Kuwait have signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, it was reported.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the three countries signed the treaty on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) at the Secretariat of ASEAN in Jakarta on Monday, ANTARA news agency reported.

The AMM serves as the side activity for the upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place in Jakarta on September 5-7, under the chairmanship of Indonesia in the regional bloc this year.

Under its chairmanship theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” Indonesia is making utmost efforts to achieve and retain the bloc’s position as the center of economic, political, and socio-cultural growth.

The MFA reported that the TAC was signed by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic, Panamanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Franco, and Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Aljaber Al-Sabah.

With the three countries joining the treaty, the ASEAN will have a total of 54 countries as the parties to its TAC. Earlier, at the 56th AMM in July in Jakarta, Saudi Arabia became the 51st country to sign the treaty.



The TAC, established in 1976, constitutes a pact that promotes the adoption of the principle of non-aggression by the member countries of ASEAN and partner countries of the Southeast Asian bloc.

The treaty is expected to encourage its signatories to endorse peace, amity, and cooperation among Southeast Asian Nations and their partners in the hopes of further bolstering the region’s strength, solidarity, and friendly ties.

By going forward with the treaty’s accession, countries need to ensure that their acts abide by the very principles of freedom and sovereignty while placing genuine respect to the territorial integrity and national identity of all countries.

Countries that are party to the treaty should also respect the right of every country to defend their national stance and refrain from intervening, invading, and coercing as well as prioritizing peaceful methods of conflict settlement.

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Jaishankar discusses possibilities of exploring ‘logistics hub’ in Panama

Addressing the joint presser on Tuesday, the EAM said the two countries have a lot in common, including market economies, pluralistic societies, and political democracies…reports Asian Lite News

On his visit to Panama, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the two sides discussed the possibilities of exploring a logistics hub here for Indian companies in the Central-American country as the two nations have been strong and close friends traditionally.

“Among the specific issues that we discussed were those pertaining to trade and investment, and the possibilities of exploring a logistics hub here for Indian companies,” Jaishankar said during a joint press briefing with Foreign Minister of Panama, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, in Panama City. The press briefing followed a discussion on several bilateral issues related to health and trade. Addressing the joint presser on Tuesday, the EAM said the two countries have a lot in common, including market economies, pluralistic societies, and political democracies.

He said, “Politically, we are… India and Panama have been strong and close friends traditionally. We share the attributes of being politically democracies, of being market economies, of being pluralistic societies and our world outlook is also very similar, we take independent positions. We are part of a larger South-South Cooperation. So there is a very good base of understanding and friendship on which our discussions were held today.”

Calling his visit to Panama a pleasure, he said that during the discussions held during his visit to the Central American country, a number of issues were discussed which focus on deepening friendship between the two nations, and how to expand the cooperation.

Jaishankar said, “We discussed the challenges of affordable health of more decentralized production of medicines in the world including in this region. We also spend some time discussing possibilities in energy, in renewables.”

He also underlined that one of the major steps on which the two sides agreed to proceed forward was to welcome a Panamanian delegation to India later this year, both a government delegation and a business delegation, the official release said.

Moreover, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (local time) also took a veiled dig at Pakistan and said that it is very difficult to engage with a neighbour, who practices cross-border terrorism against India.

Jaishankar said, “The bottom line on this issue is it is for us very difficult to engage with a neighbour who practices cross-border terrorism against us. We’ve always said that they have to deliver on the commitment not to encourage, sponsor and carry out cross-border terrorism. We continue to hope that one day we would reach that stage.”

EAM Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Panama. He arrived in Panama City on Monday and was received by Panama’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Francos.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, “Arrived in Panama City. Thank Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs @VladimirFrancoS for the warm reception. Look forward to a packed bilateral and multilateral agenda.”

EAM Jaishankar also attended the India-Latin America Business event and delivered a keynote address highlighting ten important reasons why the India-Panama business collaboration has strong prospects and merits-focused endeavours.

After his visit to Panama, the EAM on April 25 will embark on a Colombia visit where he will be meeting several top representatives of the Government, business and civil society. (ANI)

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India, Panama hold second foreign office consultations

The two sides also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora…reports Asian Lite News

India and Panama held the second Foreign Office Consultations in Panama City on November 23, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

“The 2nd Foreign Office Consultations between India and Panama were held in Panama City on 23 November 2022. The Indian side was led by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) and Panama side was led by H.E. Mr Vladimir A Franco Sousa, Vice Minister of External Relations,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. During the consultations, both sides comprehensively reviewed their bilateral relations, covering areas such as trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, ICT, capacity building, space cooperation, and consular issues.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora.

“Secretary (East) called on Foreign Minister H.E. Mrs Janaina Tewaney Mencomo. She emphasized the need for the two countries to deepen their cooperation including in the economic domain and expressed hope that Indian companies will make use of Panama’s locational and logistical advantage to do business in Americas,” the MEA said.

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of consultations at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi. (ANI)

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