News Analysis India

Tag: ASEAN

  • India holds maiden Women Military Officers Course for ASEAN Nations

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In the pursuit towards strengthening military-diplomatic ties, the Indian Army is conducting a unique Women Military Officers Course for women military officers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and the Indian Army.

    The sources said, “The Course being conducted from 18 to 29 Sep at Delhi is themed on the United Nations framework and designed as an empowering and collaborative training programme”

    Photo credit: Special arrangement

    It underscores India and ASEAN’s shared commitment to foster greater international cooperation in support of enduring world peace while ensuring gender equality.

    The Event aligns with India’s broader commitment to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus in fostering a stronger, more resilient and collaborative security fabric within the region under UN Charter.

    A lecture demonstration and Equipment display showcasing Nari Shakti and Atmanirbhar (Self-reliant) Bharat was organised for the participants on 25 September at the UN pre-deployment training area at New Delhi.

    The course is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence. It was in 2022 that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced initiatives by India for empowerment of women in the Armed Forces.

    ASEAN and India stand united and together for world peace. The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of ten ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partner countries, viz., India, USA, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The year 2022 marked the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.

    India became the dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to further the dialogue and cooperation amongst ASEAN and the Plus countries.

    India and ASEAN have elevated their relationship to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in November 2022.

    NEW DELHI: In the pursuit towards strengthening military-diplomatic ties, the Indian Army is conducting a unique Women Military Officers Course for women military officers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and the Indian Army.

    The sources said, “The Course being conducted from 18 to 29 Sep at Delhi is themed on the United Nations framework and designed as an empowering and collaborative training programme”

    Photo credit: Special arrangement

    It underscores India and ASEAN’s shared commitment to foster greater international cooperation in support of enduring world peace while ensuring gender equality.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The Event aligns with India’s broader commitment to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus in fostering a stronger, more resilient and collaborative security fabric within the region under UN Charter.

    A lecture demonstration and Equipment display showcasing Nari Shakti and Atmanirbhar (Self-reliant) Bharat was organised for the participants on 25 September at the UN pre-deployment training area at New Delhi.

    The course is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence. It was in 2022 that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced initiatives by India for empowerment of women in the Armed Forces.

    ASEAN and India stand united and together for world peace. The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of ten ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partner countries, viz., India, USA, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The year 2022 marked the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.

    India became the dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to further the dialogue and cooperation amongst ASEAN and the Plus countries.

    India and ASEAN have elevated their relationship to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in November 2022.

  • India, ASEAN first naval exercise today

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  In the process to take India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relationship to the next level Admiral R Hari Kumar, Indian Navy chief, reached Singapore on Monday to participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023).

    The AIME-2023, scheduled to be held in two phases from May 2 -8 and two Indian Naval Ships (INSs) Satpura and Delhi also reached Singapore on Monday, to participate in the exercise. The Indian Navy said, “The Harbour Phase of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from May 2 to 4 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from May 7 to 8 in the South China Sea.”

    The exercise will provide “an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain,” the Navy added.

    The ships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference being hosted by Singapore.

    INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate are a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam.

    NEW DELHI:  In the process to take India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relationship to the next level Admiral R Hari Kumar, Indian Navy chief, reached Singapore on Monday to participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023).

    The AIME-2023, scheduled to be held in two phases from May 2 -8 and two Indian Naval Ships (INSs) Satpura and Delhi also reached Singapore on Monday, to participate in the exercise. The Indian Navy said, “The Harbour Phase of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from May 2 to 4 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from May 7 to 8 in the South China Sea.”

    The exercise will provide “an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain,” the Navy added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference being hosted by Singapore.

    INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate are a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam.

  • EAM Jaishankar holds ‘productive’ talks with Indonesian counterpart

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held “productive” talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi with a focus on bilateral cooperation in several key areas including defence and security, trade and connectivity.

    The talks were held under the framework of the India-Indonesia Joint Commission.

    Marsudi is on a visit to India primarily to attend a foreign ministerial meeting of New Delhi and ASEAN member states that took place on Thursday.

    After the talks, Jaishankar said the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of ties under the India-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership. “Just concluded a productive 7th India-Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting with FM Retno Marsudi,” Jaishankar said on Twitter.

    “Reviewed entire gamut of our ties in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with focus on political, defense & security, economic and trade, S&T and space, connectivity and p2p ties,” he said.

  • India to host ASEAN foreign ministers next week

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India will host the foreign ministers of ASEAN nations from June 16 to 17 to mark the 30th anniversary of its relations with the 10-nation grouping.

    External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Myanmar’s participation at the ASEAN-India foreign ministers’ meeting would be based on the rules of the grouping, which is seen as an indication that the country’s foreign minister is unlikely to be in New Delhi.

    The position of the ASEAN on engaging Myanmar at multilateral forums following the military coup in that country last year has been that it should be at the non-political level.

    “India will host the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SAIFMM) on June 16 to 17 to mark the 30th anniversary of our dialogue relations and the 10th anniversary of our strategic partnership with the ASEAN,” Bagchi said at a media briefing.

    He said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan will co-chair the meeting.

    The foreign minister of Singapore is India’s country coordinator in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

    Bagchi said foreign ministers of other ASEAN member states and the ASEAN secretary-general will participate in the SAIFMM. The year 2022 has been designated as the ASEAN-India friendship year.

    Asked about Myanmar’s participation, Bagchi said it would be as per the ASEAN rules. There were indications that India is unlikely to invite the Myanmarese foreign minister for the meeting and instead would invite an official.

    On February 1 last year, Myanmar’s military grabbed power in the coup and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD). The country witnessed massive protests following the coup. The international community has been severely critical of the coup.

    ASEAN-India dialogue relations started with the establishment of sectoral partnership in 1992 which graduated to full dialogue partnership in December 1995, Summit level Partnership in 2002, and strategic partnership in 2012.

    “Today, ASEAN-India strategic partnership stands on a strong foundation. The ASEAN is central to India’s Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific,” Bagchi said.

    “This multi-faceted partnership encompasses many sectoral dialogue mechanisms and working groups that meet regularly at various levels and include annual summit, ministerial and senior officials’ meetings,” he said.

    The ongoing India-ASEAN collaboration is guided by the Plan of Action 2021-2025 which was adopted in 2020.

    While ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM), hosted by the ASEAN Chair is an annual event, the SAIFMM would be the first ASEAN-India FMM to be hosted by India in New Delhi.

    The SAIFMM will be preceded by 24th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting on June 15. The SAIFMM will be accompanied by the 12th edition of Delhi Dialogue, a premier Track 1.5 Dialogue in the ASEAN-India calendar, which will be hosted by India on June 16-17.

  • MEA highlights India’s Buddhist linkages with ASEAN and East Asian countries

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday celebrated the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by inaugurating projects reflecting Buddhist linkages with the ASEAN and East Asian countries.

    Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the government to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.

    As part of the celebration, books of Buddhist ‘Jataka’ tales translated into Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese languages were unveiled, the MEA said.

    A comprehensive video of e-ITEC courses offered by the MEA on Buddhist teachings was shown during the event. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) is a prestigious programme conducted by the MEA.

    Minister of State for External Affairs RajKumar Ranjan Singh inaugurated an interactive coffee table e-book on Buddhist linkages with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asian countries.

    The digital exhibition titled “Bodhicitta: Interweaving Buddhist Art Traditions from India Across Asia” curated by National Museum was displayed, the MEA said in a statement.

    “The ministry presented an Interactive Template for use by Missions for orientation visits by school/college students to cultural centres/missions for better understanding of India’s Buddhist linkages,” it said.

    A series of commemorative events and activities will be organised by the MEA across the country as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week’ from February 21 to 27.

  • Covid necessitated need for urgency to re-imagine cooperation: Jaishankar on India-ASEAN ties

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The ASEAN region is one of the major hubs for India’s global economic engagement and the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a new urgency to re-imagine the cooperation and expand its ambition further, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

    In an address at a CII event, he also said that the centrality of ASEAN to the Indo-Pacific and the importance of ties between India and the grouping are self-evident.

    “But if they have to continue to be salient, then we must strive to go beyond ideas and concepts that have outlived their shelf life,” the external affairs minister said without elaborating.

    The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.

    Jaishankar said the larger region is undergoing “significant” socio-economic changes and that the pandemic has clearly accelerated them.

    “It is important that we — India, the ASEAN and our relationship — we recognise that a different world awaits us. It is one that puts a greater premium on trust and transparency, resilience and reliability, as also on choices and redundancy,” he said.

    “Our contemporary conversations will be relevant only if we adequately capture these emerging concerns,” he noted.

    Jaishankar said India’s ties with the ASEAN are rooted in history, geography and culture and what has energised them in recent years is a growing awareness of the potential they hold for mutual interests and development.

    He said that as cooperation between the two sides grew in the course of the last 25 years, new facets and domains emerged for collaboration and that connectivity and security were among the more notable ones.

    “As a result, our Look East policy matured into an Act East one. Its success is reflected in drawing India more comprehensively into the Indo-Pacific. There is no doubt that the ASEAN is one of the major hubs for India’s global economic engagement,” Jaishankar said “As it develops, it is natural that we would like to re-visit the level of ambition that we have set for our partnership.

    That is also influenced by autonomous changes in the region.

    But what has given this objective a new urgency is the necessity to re-imagine our cooperation in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

    The external affairs minister said a crisis can often be the basis of creativity and the endeavour should be to come out of the pandemic stronger.

    The 10 member countries of ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

    The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence.

    The ASEAN region along with India together comprises a combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one-fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated at over USD 3.8 trillion.

    Jaishankar said that the pandemic provided the backdrop for how most countries approach both their economic policies and their global outlook now.

    “After all, it has disrupted our supply chains, impacted our manufacturing, affected our trade and veritably ruined many services sectors. These developments have not just altered various dimensions of our day to day business; they have even shaped our way of life,” he said.

    “From the prolonged crisis of the last two years, four areas have come into sharp focus for international business cooperation: resilient and reliable supply chains, health security, digital for development and green and sustainable recovery,” he added.

    Jaishankar said these four elements should constitute the core agenda for the ties.

    He said uncertainties brought forth by the pandemic cannot just be wished away nor can it be considered as a one-time phenomenon.

    “Therefore, we are tasked with responding to the immediate repercussions even as we are compelled to plan for the future. A large part of the answers – both short term and beyond – lies in diversification, expansion and transparency. De-risking our national economies will only be possible if we achieve a strong measure of success quickly in that regard,” he said.

    Jaishankar said the pandemic has brought out many inadequacies in the global health system and that meaningful partnerships, sharing of advanced technologies, collaboration in vaccine and pharmaceutical production and transparency in health information are all part of the answers.

    He also highlighted the achievements of India’s pharma sector.

    “Apart from vaccines, Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing stepped up to the challenge by ramping up production for medicines that were in great demand. All this was happening even as we simultaneously transformed the public health system in India,” he said.

    “The fact is that health has emerged as a more serious priority for all societies. Business must recognise the ensuing opportunities,” he added.