25 years of India’s ties with ASEAN

The countdown to the commemorative summit marking 25 years of India’s ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is underway with leaders of all 10 nations arriving in New Delhi.

A look at what all is expected from the much awaited summit in this report…

India-ASEAN ties have completed 25 years…Celebrating this moment, Prime Minister Modi invitated to all ten ASEAN heads of state to participate in the India ASEAN commemorative Summit alongside being the Chief guests at the Republic day parade this year.

This is a unique first that show cases India’s warm hospitality. All 10 leaders have begun arriving to a warm welcome with dancers from the North-East performing for them.

The summit patch will begin with a banquet to be hosted by Hon’ble President followed be a Leader’s Retreat in which Prime Minister Modi has invited all the 10 ASEAN leaders for an exclusive retreat summit. Thereafter the summit will then move on to a plenary of the Commemorative Summit followed by a Gala Dinner to be hosted by our Prime Minister.

Several programmes played out simultaneously in the run up to the Commemorative Summit as well as the Republic day parade.

In a cultural extravaganza, The ASEAN Ramayana festival kicked off on the 20th. Troupes from all ASEAN countries are performing in the capital with over 120 performers participating.

An India-ASEAN Business & Investment Summit was organised on 22-23 January.

An ASEAN-India textiles event entitled Weaving Textiles Relationship was also be held on 23 January. This included a Fabric show.

ASEAN-India Youth Awards were given away on 23rd January.

On 24th January is the ASEAN-India Business Council Meeting and Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Business Conclave.

Apart from Commerce, Connectivity and Culture, Maritime security is also an integral component of New Delhi’s engagement with the ASEAN countries, which may feature in the talks.

Be it the Ramayana connect or the textile connect. Woven into the 3 Cs of Commerce, Connectivity and Culture are India’s deep rooted, ancient ties with all ten ASEAN nations.

India became a member of ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996. ASEAN and India began holding annual summits in 2002 to elevate political, security, economic and socio-cultural ties.

In 2015, ASEAN leaders welcomed India’s “Act East Policy.” The ASEAN region is India’s fourth largest trading partner. Volume of two-way trade between ASEAN countries and India was recorded at $60.05 billion in 2016.

The Association of South East Asian Nations was established on August 8, 1968 with the aim to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.

The five founding members included Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia later joined.

India is all set to live up to its Atithi Devo Bhav philosophy to welcome the ASEAN leaders. This unique gesture clearly illustrates the emphasis Prime Minister Modi lays on deepening ties with this region