<p>On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 12-point plan for enhancing India-ASEAN collaboration in sectors like digital transformation, commerce, and economic engagement while tackling current issues like terrorism and reinforcing the strategic alliance.</p>
<p>Here in the capital of Indonesia, Modi participated in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the secretary-general of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), also attended the conference.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-165438″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-750×422.png” alt=”theindiaprint.com pti09 07 2023 000061a 11zon” width=”1479″ height=”832″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-750×422.png 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-1024×576.png 1024w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-768×432.png 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-390×220.png 390w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon-150×84.png 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-pti09-07-2023-000061a-11zon.png 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 1479px) 100vw, 1479px” title=”PM Modi Outlines 12-Point Plan to Boost India-ASEAN Cooperation 15″></p>
<p>The summit also saw the adoption of two joint declarations, one on maritime cooperation and the other on food security, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).</p>
<p>The ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was further strengthened during the summit, and Prime Minister Modi had comprehensive conversations with ASEAN partners about its future direction.</p>
<p>The prime minister underlined the connections between India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and reiterated ASEAN’s vital role in the Indo-Pacific region.</p>
<p>Additionally, he emphasized the need of completing the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) assessment in a timely way.</p>
<p>In order to improve India-ASEAN collaboration, the prime minister made a 12-point plan that touched on connectivity, digital transformation, trade and economic engagement, resolving current difficulties, people-to-people interactions, and increasing strategic engagement.</p>
<p>According to the statement, India’s proposal called for the creation of a multimodal connectivity and economic corridor connecting South-East Asia, India, West Asia, and Europe. It also promised to share its Digital Public Infrastructure Stack with ASEAN partners.</p>
<p>The ASEAN-India fund for the digital future, which focuses on collaboration in digital transformation and financial connectivity, was also unveiled by Prime Minister Modi.</p>
<p>The prime minister proposed a 12-point plan that included fighting terrorism, funding of terrorism, and cyber-disinformation together.</p>
<p>He said in the proposal that the Economic and Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) will continue to receive funding in order to serve as a knowledge partner for advancing our engagement.</p>
<p>According to the statement, he advocated for jointly bringing up concerns affecting the Global South in global fora.</p>
<p>He urged for collaboration on Mission LiFE, an India-led worldwide public effort to encourage individual and communal action to conserve and preserve the environment, and extended an invitation to ASEAN nations to join the worldwide Centre for Traditional Medicine being constructed by WHO in India.</p>
<p>The prime minister also promised to discuss India’s experience in using Jan-Aushadhi Kendras to provide people access to inexpensive, high-quality medications.</p>
<p>He urged collaboration in disaster management and extended an invitation to ASEAN nations to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.</p>
<p>According to the statement, he also urged for more collaboration on marine safety, security, and domain knowledge.</p>
<p>Along with the leaders of ASEAN and India, Timor-Leste also attended the summit as an observer.</p>
<p>According to an ASEAN statement, the meeting reviewed the developments in the ASEAN-India dialogue relations and welcomed the adoption of the Annex to the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025) in order to strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.</p>
<p>The Leaders of ASEAN and India also endorsed the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Maritime Cooperation, which reaffirmed both parties’ shared goal for a peaceful, stable, prosperous, rules-based, open, and inclusive region, it added.</p>
<p>India and numerous other nations, including the US, China, Japan, and Australia, are its discussion partners. ASEAN is regarded as one of the most prominent groups in the area.</p>
<p>After many ASEAN members, including Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, responded strongly to China’s territorial claim over the South China Sea in its most recent “Standard Map of China,” Prime Minister Modi made his suggestion. The new Chinese map, which included Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as Chinese territory, was also rejected by India.</p>
<p>The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) was attended by Prime Minister Modi as well.</p>
<p>Modi emphasized the value of the EAS mechanism in his speech and underlined India’s support for its future strengthening. According to the MEA statement, the prime minister emphasized India’s support for ASEAN centrality and urged for securing a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.</p>
<p>According to the statement, the prime minister emphasized how India and ASEAN have similar aspirations for the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized how ASEAN is the keystone of the Quad’s strategy.</p>
<p>With China exercising its military might in the Indo-Pacific area, the Quad, which consists of India, the US, Japan, and Australia, has been focused on practical collaboration to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.</p>
<p>In addition, the prime minister called for a collaborative strategy to handle issues including terrorism, climate change, resilient supply chains for necessities like food and medicine, and energy security.</p>
<p>He emphasized India’s efforts to combat climate change, as well as programs like LiFE, One Sun One World One Grid, the International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.</p>
<p>The leaders discussed regional and global concerns as well.</p>
