A conference was held in New Delhi on December 13 to look
back the 25 years of the ASEAN-India Partnership. (Photo: VNA)
The two sides established 30 dialogue mechanisms, including high-level and
minister-level meetings across fields, he said at a conference to look back the
25 years of the ASEAN-India Partnership in New Delhi on December 13.
Cooperation between ASEAN and India will support each other to reach stronger
development as both sides account for a quarter of the world’s population with
a total GDP of 3,800 billion USD, according to the diplomat.
ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trade partner, with two-way trade reaching
71.69 billion USD in 2016-2017 compared to 30.09 billion USD in
2007-2008.
Investment from ASEAN to India surged by 70 billion USD over the past 17 years,
making up over 17 percent of India’s total foreign direct investment (FDI),
while India’s investment to the bloc reached over 40 billion USD in the same
period.
The Ambassador said the ASEAN Connectivity Blueprint set forth five strategic
fields with a close connection with India’s Act East Policy, towards expanding
cooperation between the two sides.
He believed that the conference will contribute to further promoting the strategic
partnership between the two sides.
For his part, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and
Natural Gas and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,
expressed his belief in the closer ties between India and ASEAN in the future,
especially in the economy and trade.
He underlined the significance of enhancing the India-ASEAN connectivity as
well as the promoting diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between the two
sides.
The event, hosted by the Kalinga International Foundation, focused on issues
related to the India-ASEAN strategic partnership and India’s Act East Policy;
economic cooperation between the two sides; regional and bilateral cooperation;
and security challenges as well.
Source: VNA
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