He said Covid-19 triggered challenges have also brought ASEAN and India even closer, “as we have extended practical support to each other during these times of stress.”…reports Asian Lite News.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said India is committed to support a “strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN, one whose centrality in the Indo-Pacific is fully appreciated”.
“The strong convergence between the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative (IPOI) proposed by India adds another dimension to our contemporary partnership,” the EAM said in his opening remarks at ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers meeting.
Stating that India’s ties with the ASEAN are rooted in history and strengthened by proximity, he said, “Together, these are factors that can help us achieve a vision of a more ‘connected’ India and ASEAN. This will naturally require the realization of a dedicated set of initiatives which, of course, constitute the core of our collaborative agenda.”
He said Covid-19 triggered challenges have also brought ASEAN and India even closer, “as we have extended practical support to each other during these times of stress.”
The EAM said ASEAN is held across the world as a good example of successful regionalism, multilateralism and globalization.
“This year’s theme of ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper’ under the able chairmanship of Brunei succinctly captures the outlook of ASEAN. I am confident that this theme applies equally to our partnership as well,” Jaishankar said
He added the year 2022 will be marking the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations. “We agreed to commemorate this important occasion by celebrating it as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year,” the EAM maintained. (India News Network)
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