24TH INDIA-ASEAN SOM MEETING HELD IN NEW DELHI
Recently, the 24th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was hosted in Delhi. India and ASEAN celebrated the 30th anniversary of their Dialogue Relations. Earlier, the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers' (ADGMIN) Meeting with India was held, where two sides finalized India-ASEAN Digital work plan 2022 for future collaboration in the field.
WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS?
About: It is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation. It was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Its chairmanship rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States. ASEAN countries have a total population of 650 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 2.8 trillion. It is India’s 4th largest trading partner with about USD 86.9 billion in trade.
Members: ASEAN brings together ten Southeast Asian states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – into one organisation.
WHAT ARE THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS?
The SOM reviewed the ASEAN-India strategic partnership and its future direction. The leaders made their assessment on the progress of cooperation under three pillars of Partnership – Political-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural. The meeting deliberated on the steps for further implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025). The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest including the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery. Underlining India's vision of the Indo-Pacific, emphasized the implementation of the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to strengthen the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership. The ASEAN side appreciated India’s support to ASEAN and ASEAN-led architecture in the region.
HOW HAS BEEN THE ASEAN-INDIA RELATIONS?
About: ASEAN, a 10-nation grouping, is considered one of the most influential groupings in Southeast Asia. India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, are its dialogue partners. The ASEAN-India dialogue relations started with the establishment of a sectoral partnership in 1992. This graduated to full dialogue partnership in December 1995 and summit-level partnership in 2002. Traditionally the basis of India-ASEAN ties has been trade and people-to-people ties due to shared historical and cultural roots, a more recent and urgent area of convergence has been balancing China’s rise. Both India and ASEAN aim to establish rules-based security architecture for peaceful development in the region, in contrast to China’s aggressive policies.
AREAS OF COOPERATION:
- Economic Cooperation: ASEAN is India’s 4th largest trading partner. India signed an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) in goods in 2009 and an FTA in services and investments in 2014 with ASEAN. India has a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with various countries of the ASEAN region which has resulted in concessional trade and a rise in investments.
- Political Cooperation: ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) was established to undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN.
- Financial Assistance: India provides financial assistance to the ASEAN nations through various mechanisms like ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund and ASEAN-India Green Fund.
- Connectivity: India has been undertaking several connectivity projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMT) Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project. India is also trying to establish a Maritime Transportation Agreement with ASEAN and also Plans for a Railway link between New Delhi in India to Hanoi in Vietnam.
- Defence Cooperation: Joint Naval and Military exercises are conducted between India and most ASEAN countries. Vietnam has traditionally been a close friend on defense issues, Singapore is also an equally important partner.
CONCLUSION
With China having three times more commercial flights than India to Southeast Asia, improving air connectivity between India and ASEAN countries should also be high on the agenda. India can become a military partner after the Atma Nirbar Bharat, Make in India projects are successfully implemented. There is a need to expand the Concept of QUAD to include the ASEAN countries and become a QUAD+ arrangement. Vietnam and Indonesia have expressed a positive note on QUAD in the region. Tourism can be encouraged between India and the ASEAN with some creative branding by the two sides.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Recently, the 24th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was hosted at which of the following places?
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Manila, Philippines
- New Delhi, India: ANSWER
- None of the following
Q.2 The Objective of ‘Act East Policy’ is to promote regional and multilateral levels thereby providing enhanced connectivity to the Indian states. Which of the following region(s) or state(s) under the policy are covered?
- North Eastern Region including Arunachal Pradesh: ANSWER
- North Eastern Region including West Bengal.
- North Western Region including Himachal Pradesh.
- Eastern Region including Bihar and West Bengal.
Q.3 India and the ASEAN countries working closely with the regional bloc in a range of activities. Which among the following activities is/are involved by the countries?
- Developing a blue economy
- Coastal surveillance
- Building off-shore patrolling capabilities
- All of the above: ANSWER
Q.4 Which of the following statements is/are correct in context of the objectives of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- To increase competition among the members countries for better products.
- To integrate the economies of the region to make region more attractive for investors
- To promote economic cooperation in the South East Asia and ensure economic stability in the region.
- I & II follows
- Only III follows
- II & III follows: ANSWER
- None of the above
Q.5 Being the member of the which of the following organisations, India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism which includes money laundering and terrorist financing?
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF): ANSWER
- United Nations Security Council
- United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
- United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
