[pib] India’s Statement at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit

Why in the News?

In alignment with the theme of this year’s ASEAN Summit—“Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”—PM Modi laid out the following ten key suggestions for strengthening cooperation.

Back2Basics: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN, founded in 1967 with the Bangkok Declaration, aims for economic growth, regional peace, and an integrated ASEAN community.
The ASEAN Charter, launched in 2008, formalized ASEAN’s legal status and sought to establish a single free-trade area.
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was established in 2009, adopting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012.
ASEAN members comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. East Timor (Timor-Leste) applied for membership in 2011 but is not yet a member.
ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, South Korea) aims to deepen regional integration among Southeast Asia and East Asian countries.
East Asia Summit (EAS), including ASEAN Plus Three + India, Australia, and New Zealand, enhances strategic dialogue and cooperation in the region.

Ten suggestions by PM Modi for ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience:

No.	Suggestion	Details
1	ASEAN-India Year of Tourism (2025)	Declare 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, with India committing USD 5 million to promote tourism between India and ASEAN.
2	Celebrating a Decade of India’s Act East Policy	Organize events connecting artists, youth, entrepreneurs, and think tanks, including a Music Festival, Youth Summit, Hackathon, etc.
3	Women Scientists’ Conclave	Hold an annual Women Scientists’ Conclave under the India-ASEAN Science and Technology Fund to promote collaboration and innovation.
4	Scholarships for ASEAN Students	Double the Masters scholarships for ASEAN students at Nalanda University and launch a new scholarship program for ASEAN students in agriculture.
5	Review of ASEAN-India Trade Agreement	Complete the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025 to enhance economic ties and build a secure, resilient supply chain.
6	Disaster Resilience	Allocate USD 5 million from the ASEAN-India Fund for disaster resilience, with collaboration between India’s NDMA and ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance Centre.
7	Health Resilience	Institutionalize the ASEAN-India Health Ministers Meeting and invite two experts from each ASEAN country to India’s National Cancer Grid Vishwam Conference.
8	Digital and Cyber Resilience	Establish a cyber-policy dialogue between India and ASEAN to strengthen digital and cyber resilience.
9	Promoting a Green Future	Organize workshops on green hydrogen involving experts from India and ASEAN to promote sustainable energy solutions.
10	Climate Resilience	Promote the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (Plant for Mother) campaign to encourage tree planting and strengthen climate resilience.