The ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) was inaugurated by Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on June 21 at Magnolia Hall, India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

The event saw the presence of ASEAN Heads of Missions in New Delhi and senior Indian Government officials.

Minister Khurshid said the centre has been established in fulfillment of the direction given by ASEAN leaders and the Prime Minister of India in the ASEAN-India Vision Statement, adopted at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on December 20, 2012 .

The AIC would work to strengthen India 's cooperation with ASEAN in its realisation of the ASEAN Community by 2015, serving as a resource centre for ASEAN member states and India to fill the knowledge gaps that currently limit the opportunities for cooperation.

The AIC would also undertake regular networking activities with relevant organisations and think tanks in India and ASE AN member states, with the aim of providing up-to-date information, data resources and sustained interaction to promote the ASE AN-India Strategic Partnership.

As Chair of ASEAN New Delhi Committee (ANDC), Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Tan said the AIC’s inauguration is an important event in the development of ASE AN-India relationship and for the benefit of both India and ASEAN.

He highly appreciates efforts made by the Ministry of External Affairs of India and other concerned authorities as well as by ASE AN countries to set up the centre.-VNA