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21st ASEAN-India Summit 2024
Context:
The 21st ASEAN-India Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, focused on enhancing India-ASEAN relations amid global tensions and conflicts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised dialogue and cooperation, marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy. A 10-point plan was unveiled to further strengthen ties.
Importance
- The 21st ASEAN-India Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, on October 10, 2024, aimed at strengthening India-ASEAN relations through dialogue and cooperation.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending for the 11th time, presented a vision to mark a decade of India’s “Act East Policy” and proposed a 10-point plan for enhancing India-ASEAN ties.
- The summit occurred amid geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region and the South China Sea, stressing the importance of peace and security in the region.
About ASEAN
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PM Modi’s 10-Point Plan for Strengthening India-ASEAN Relations
- ASEAN-India Year of Tourism (2025): India will provide USD 5 million towards joint tourism activities to boost socio-economic ties.
- Celebration of a Decade of Act East Policy: People-centric activities such as Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, and the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks will be organised to deepen cultural and diplomatic ties.
- ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave: A conclave under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund will be organised to promote gender equality in science and innovation.
- Increased Scholarships for ASEAN Students: India will double the scholarships offered at Nalanda University and introduce new scholarships at Agricultural Universities for ASEAN students.
- Review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement: A review of the trade agreement is scheduled for 2025 to enhance bilateral trade and economic integration.
- Enhancing Disaster Resilience: India will allocate USD 5 million to support initiatives aimed at building disaster resilience across ASEAN member states.
- Health Ministers’ Track for Health Resilience: A new mechanism will be initiated among ASEAN Health Ministers to strengthen health resilience, especially in response to pandemics and public health challenges.
- ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue: A regular dialogue mechanism will be established to strengthen digital and cyber resilience between India and ASEAN, focusing on cybersecurity policies and practices.
- Green Hydrogen Workshop: India will organise a workshop on Green Hydrogen to explore sustainable energy solutions and green technology collaboration with ASEAN nations.
- ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ Campaign: PM Modi invited ASEAN leaders to participate in this campaign, aimed at promoting climate resilience through reforestation and sustainable environmental practices.
Key Themes of Cooperation
- Regional Security and Maritime Cooperation: India and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea regions, emphasising freedom of navigation and lawful maritime commerce in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.
- Defence and Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: The summit emphasised cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, military medicine, transnational crime, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations, and joint military exercises to build defense ties.
- Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies: Collaboration will be strengthened in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing, Robotics, and 6G technology.
- India’s role in advancing ASEAN’s digital public infrastructure and fintech innovations was recognised.
Joint Statements Adopted
- Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: The joint statement stressed the importance of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, along with implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through India’s Act East Policy.
- Advancing Digital Transformation: The second joint statement highlighted the role of digital public infrastructure in boosting financial technology, digital connectivity, and cybersecurity, with a focus on collaboration in AI, digital payments, and capacity building.
ASEAN-India Trade and Economic Relations
- Growth in Bilateral Trade: Over the last decade, India’s trade with ASEAN has doubled, surpassing USD 130 billion in 2024. India and ASEAN aim to further enhance economic ties through timely reviews of trade agreements.
- Fintech and Digital Financial Solutions: Joint efforts were discussed to expand collaboration on financial technology innovations, cross-border payment systems, and digital financial inclusion in the region.
- Focus on Climate Resilience: India’s emphasis on climate resilience was underlined through the “Plant a Tree for Mother” campaign and initiatives like the Green Hydrogen workshop to explore sustainable energy transitions in ASEAN countries.
- Future Plan of Action (2026-2030): Leaders agreed to create a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) to further strengthen the partnership across various sectors, including digital transformation, economic cooperation, and environmental sustainability.
Conclusion:
The 21st ASEAN-India Summit highlighted India’s strategic alignment with ASEAN, emphasising cooperation in security, trade, technology, and climate resilience. PM Modi’s 10-point plan underscored the shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Asia, reaffirming India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and unity amidst global challenges.
