Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other countries in the Philippines next week will be crucial for bolstering trade and building resilience amid rapid geopolitical changes, the external affairs ministry said on Thursday.
Tandon highlighted the importance of maritime cooperation with Asean member states, especially for coordinated patrolling and maritime domain awareness, in order to counter problems such as piracy and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. There is no alternative to engagement. India strongly supports Asean initiatives to engage the Myanmar government, while taking into account the country’s complex history and society.
Annual trade between India and Asean member states is worth about $122 billion. Earlier reporting noted: The visit will take place from November 16 to 18, Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) at the MEA, announced during a special media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday. Because if we do, someone else will fill that vacuum, asked about India’s position on dealing with the situation in Myanmar, Tandon said: “We have always said that isolating Myanmar is not the right approach.
Asean has emerged as a central pillar of India’s Act East policy and vision for the Indo-Pacific, and Rudrendra Tandon, secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry, told a media briefing that the 11-member bloc serves as a “locomotive for peace, stability and economic prosperity”. “India strongly believes that as an Indian Ocean country that abuts this very important Southeast Asian maritime zone, a strong strategic relationship with Asean member states, as a collective as well as individually, is good for both of us,” Tandon said. India can also offer training and other assistance to bolster the maritime capabilities of Asean member states, he said. At the same time, India has developed strong defence cooperation with several Asean member states, he said, pointing to the deal finalised with the Philippines for supplying BrahMos cruise missiles. In the context of trade with the Southeast Asian bloc, Tandon said New Delhi wants the review of the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to be completed “as soon as possible”. India is also engaged in discussions with individual Asean member states for trade facilitation and trade agreements to open up new opportunities, he said. “Patience and consistency in engagement is very important,” Tandon said.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to the Philippines next week to attend the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit and the 21st meeting of the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
