Excellencies,
Good afternoon. Xin Chao.
I am delighted to join this platform virtually today. I congratulate Vietnam, especially Prime Minister H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, and my esteemed colleague, Foreign Minister H.E. Bui Thanh Son, for successfully holding the first ‘ASEAN Future Forum’. I thank them for inviting me to this august forum.
India and ASEAN are neighbours sharing millennia-old cultural and civilizational linkages. The ASEAN-India relationship which has entered its fourth decade and has matured into a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ is based on shared values and common aspirations.
ASEAN is at the heart of our Act East Policy and is a crucial pillar in India’s wider Indo-pacific vision. We support ASEAN unity, centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific. India believes that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific. Synergy between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) that is reflected in our ASEAN-India Leaders Joint Statement provides a strong framework for cooperation, including in addressing challenges to comprehensive security.
India was among the first to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia indicating our collective resolve towards maintaining peace, prosperity and stability in the region. We have held the First ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in 2023 and aim to hold the second edition at a mutually convenient date. Our recent operations in the Red Sea area have rendered protection and support, and evacuation of crew, including of ASEAN Member States. As net security provider and first responder, India’s initiative of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is aimed at contributing towards peace and stability in the region.
It is vital that freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated. The 1982 UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas provide a comprehensive legal framework and serve as the Constitution of the Seas within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. Upholding the UNCLOS is our common and collective endeavour, besides efforts towards mitigation, adaptation and response capacities to deal with the impact of climate change and disasters, and global challenges such as transnational crimes, terrorism, cyber attacks, human trafficking and health and food security.
The digital era and increasing use of artificial intelligence have resulted in a premium on trust and transparency issues affecting our concept of security. There is growing recognition globally that over-concentration of manufacturing and technology is creating both supply-side risks, as well as the possibility of leveraging with vested interests by some in the wake of natural calamities. We all had experienced it during the Covid19 pandemic and all of us learned a powerful lesson. We must strive towards diverse, secure, transparent and resilient supply chains.
India and the ASEAN Member States are also working together under various sub-regional mechanisms, namely the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle and the BIMSTEC.
I would also like to mention here that Quad Leaders have been consistent in extending their unwavering support for ASEAN Centrality and Unity. We believe that Quad compliments the ASEAN and the ASEAN-led mechanisms in their effort to make the region prosperous through delivery of people-centric benefits such as Quad Infrastructure and STEM Scholarships.
We believe that the time has come for the Global South to present its perspective and assume a greater role in international affairs. As G20 President last year, we held virtual Voice of Global South Summits with participation of several ASEAN Member States.
Today, a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world are increasingly self-evident. This brings to the fore an ever important role of ASEAN and of India to deal with the realities of the emerging world order. It underlines the need for greater cooperation and coordination between India and the ASEAN.
Thank you.