The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit is the peak activity that closes the activities in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-India relations. The summit is considered an important driving force to bring the ASEAN-India ties to a more substantial height. In fact, it is for the first time India invites leaders of all 10 ASEAN member countries to the 69th anniversary of the Indian Republic Day (January 26). This unprecedented event in the history of celebrating the Republic Day, has clearly proved the important position of ASEAN in India’s foreign policy.
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Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: VNA |
Located in the important and strategic position, connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, ASEAN plays the role to connect India with the East Asia and Asia-Pacific regions. Therefore, right after the end of the Cold War, India started its “Look East” policy, now “Act East” policy, which highly values the ASEAN factor in its foreign policy.
As for ASEAN, throughout its history, ASEAN has always had a fine relationship with India and most of the countries in the bloc consider India a potential and reliable partner in the region.
In 2017, ASEAN and India celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-India relations, the 15 years of the formation of the bilateral high-level mechanism and the five years of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. Over the past time, the two sides have seen comprehensive development of bilateral relations in all the three pillars of politics-security, economics, and socio-culture.
India shares with ASEAN the view on building the law-based, open, comprehensive and balanced regional structure, considering the comprehensive connection with ASEAN, a focal point via the initial disbursement of the credit package of USD 1 billion to connection projects, the proposal to establish a Joint Task Force on Connectivity, and the increase of USD 50 million for the ASEAN-India Fund.
Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, India advocates freedom of maritime navigation, aviation and unimpeded trade and dealing with disputes via peaceful means, including the respect for legal and diplomatic progresses in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. The country also agrees that related parties abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and make efforts to soon complete the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) based on consensus.
In terms of economic cooperation, the ASEAN-India bilateral trade value reached nearly USD 76 billion in 2017. ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trading partner and India is the sixth largest trading partner of ASEAN. The investment flows between the two sides have reached more than USD 110 billion since 2000 (of which investment from ASEAN stands at USD 70 billion and that from India is now more than USD 40 billion). Both sides also signed the Agreement on Free Trade of Goods in 2009 and the bilateral Agreement on Trade in Services and Investment in 2014.
In recent years, socio-culture is the realm that has seen most dynamic cooperation between ASEAN and India. A good number of cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been held annually, including the ASEAN-India Student Exchange Program, training courses on diplomacy for ASEAN diplomats…
Overall, in the ASEAN-India relationship, the relations between Vietnam and India play a special role. India has always highly valued the role of Vietnam in the bloc, wishing to, together with Vietnam, boost cooperation with the bloc for a dynamic, peaceful and stable region.
Promoting the traditionally friendly relations and the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership and trust between the two countries, Vietnam has well conducted its role as the coordinator of the ASEAN-India relations for the period of 2015-2018, contributing actively to promoting the completion of cooperation programs in politics, security, economics, and socio-culture. Vietnam advocates India in its implementation of the “Act East” policy, initiatives of regional connectivity and support for the development of the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam and the Mekong-Ganges sub-regions.
The Vietnam-India relations have made significant progress over the past time, especially after the formation of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership and the exchange of visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries. The attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 69th Anniversary of the Republic Day of India provides a good opportunity for Vietnam to maintain the development of relations with India, and reflects Vietnam’s active role in coordinating ASEAN-India relations, thereby enhancing Vietnam’s image and position in the international arena.
The People’s Army Newspaper
Translated by Huu Duong