Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

On the sidelines of the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting, External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar had a series of bilateral engagements with his counterparts from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. In his meeting with the Foreign Minister II of Brunei, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on 16 June both Ministers reviewed the progress in bilateral relations. They agreed that cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, space, agriculture and pharmaceuticals should be further strengthened.

3. With his Indonesian counterpart H.E. Mrs. Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, EAM held the 7th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on 17 June 2022. Both Ministers reviewed the bilateral relations and discussed the way ahead for further strengthening the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Ministers signed the "Agreement on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports". They also witnessed the exchange of "MoU between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India and National Narcotics Board of Indonesia on combating illicit trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors”, and "MoU between National Sugar Institute, Kanpur and Politeknic Perkebunan LPP, Yogyakarta”. Both Ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues including Indo-Pacific. EAM expressed solidarity with Indonesia for its Chairmanship of the G20 and supported its priorities.

4. EAM also met the Foreign Minister of Malaysia Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah on 17 June and witnessed the exchange of notes for mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Both Ministers decided to impart fresh momentum to the relations with focus on economic and trade ties including in sectors such as palm oil and hydrocarbons. They agreed to hold the next Joint Commission Meeting in Malaysia. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments.

5. Singapore Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan met EAM on 15 June and discussed various aspects of the multifaceted relations between the two countries including in areas such as trade and investment, digital economy and FINTECH, green growth and development, and connectivity. They also had a wide ranging conversation on global geopolitical challenges and developments in the region. Both Ministers agreed on the need to give the relationship a new impetus for further growth through greater ministerial level engagements.

6. EAM also met the Special Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand H.E. Ms Pornpimol Kanchanalak on 16 June. EAM assured her of India's full support during Thailand's Chairmanship of BIMSTEC.

7. EAM and Foreign Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Bui Thanh Son on 17 June had a bilateral meeting and also launched the logo for the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting was held at the new Chancery building of the Embassy of Vietnam. The Ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, and regional and international developments of mutual interest. They also discussed high level exchanges. Following the meeting, an MoU on cybersecurity between CERT-In, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India and VNCERT, Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam, was exchanged.

New Delhi
June 17, 2022