India-ASEAN Relations: Building An Enduring Partnership

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Advancing India’s Act East policy and its Indo-Pacific outlook, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Bangkok to participate in the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, the 9thEast Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM),the 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting (MGC MM). Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific order at the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, The External Affairs Minister welcomed ASEAN’s recently enunciated ‘Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’ and underscored the convergence with respect to common principles and approach. At the Ministerial Meeting, Dr.Jaishankar prioritised maritime cooperation, connectivity and achieving sustainable development goals while furthering the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the Minister urged ASEAN to expand cooperation with other regional frameworks including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

He also co-chaired the MGC MM with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Mr. Pham Binh Minh. The new MGC Plan of Action 2019-2022 was adopted which pushes for project-based cooperation in the seven areas including tourism and culture, education, public health and traditional medicine, agriculture and allied sectors, transport and communication, MSMEs as well as three new areas of cooperation such as water resources management, science and technology, skill development and capacity building.Demonstrating India’s commitment to the region, New Delhi has extended assistance to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam under the MGC Quick Impact Projects (QIP) Scheme. Since its beginning in 2014, 24 projects are completed. 18 QIPs will be implemented in Cambodia, Viet Nam and Lao PDR in 2019 at a cost of US$ 900,000. Myanmar is urged to identify projects of mutual interest under the QIP Scheme. India has joined the Ayeyarwady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) as a Development Partner.

There is a need to synergize the MGC with the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025). There was discussion on the progress,especially speedy finalisation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicle Agreement (IMT MVA). Possible extension of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam was deliberated upon. A study analysing the practicability of the development of the highway as an economic growth corridor has been commissioned in March 2019. India has a US$ 1 billion Line of Credit (LOC) for connectivity projects in ASEAN and is identifying projects and discussing modalities for using of the LOC. 

In the run-up to the East Asia Summit in November, the EAS FMM was held. The leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues, and discussed further bolstering the EAS as the region’s major Leaders-led forum for discussion on global political-security and economic issues. At the EAS FMM, there was discussion on the Manila Plan of Action (2018-2022) and the Phnom Penh Declaration on the EAS Development Initiative. Moreover, at the 26th ARF meeting, focus was on building strategic trust in the region. Earlier in March, India and Myanmar organised a Field Training Exercise on Military Medicine in Lucknow for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) countries.

As South-east Asia lies at the heart of India’s Act East Policy, India will continue to invest in ASEAN elevating the strategic partnership to newer heights. India’s strategic engagement with South-east Asia is based on 3C’s—Commerce, Connectivity and Culture. There are around 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN, encompassing several critical sectors.Since South-east Asia is a key ‘gateway’ into and out of the Indian Ocean region on the one hand and features as one of the fastest developing regions in the global economy on the other, India supports a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN playing a central role in the emerging dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.


Script: Dr.Titli Basu, Strategic Analyst on East & South-East Asia


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