New Delhi: Against the backdrop of China-Taiwan tensions, India pushed for the centrality of ASEAN in a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
During a meeting of India ASEAN Foreign Minister attended by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in Cambodia, issues related to the Indo Pacific region were discussed.
Speaking at the meeting on the theme ‘ASEAN ACT: Addressing Challenges Together’ the Minister highlighted the importance India places on ASEAN as an important pillar of regional, multilateral, and global order.
Importantly, some ASEAN countries including India are also troubled by growing Chinese aggression over territorial claims.
“Noting the strong convergence between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), he called for greater cooperation between India and ASAEN in the Indo-Pacific. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers appreciated India’s consistent support to ASEAN and looked forward to working together to further strengthen ASEAN-India relations,” the MEA said.
The ministers also deliberated on ways to elevate cooperation in the post-pandemic era including enhancing cooperation in areas of smart agriculture, healthcare, new and renewable energy, digital inclusivity, and fintech.
The Ministers also shared views on important regional and international issues of mutual interest and discussed preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit.
During the visit, the Minister also called on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and discussed bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Dr. Jaishankar also had bilateral interactions with his counterparts from Australia, Sri Lanka, US, and Vietnam.
External Affairs Minister’s visit to Cambodia was fruitful and strengthened India’s bilateral and multilateral relations in the Indo-Pacific.
