Leaders highlight progress in ASEAN-India strategic partnership

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared other leaders’ view on the progress in the ASEAN-India strategic partnership at a summit between the two sides in Bangkok on November 3 morning.
Leaders highlight progress in ASEAN-India strategic partnership ảnh 1The 16th ASEAN-India Summit takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 3 morning (Photo: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc shared other leaders’ view on the progress in the ASEAN-Indiastrategic partnership at a summit between the two sides in Bangkok on November3 morning.

The 16th ASEAN-India Summit, part of the ongoing35th ASEAN Summit and related summits, was attended by leaders of the 10 ASEANcountries and Indian PM Narendra Modi.

At the event, they welcomed India’s Act EastPolicy and active support for ASEAN’s central role and efforts to boostregional connectivity and build a community.

PM Modi affirmed India’s strong commitment toASEAN, stressing that the bloc is at the centre of his country’s Act EastPolicy and Indo-Pacific outlook, and India also strongly supports theIndo-Pacific outlook of ASEAN.

At the summit, the participants noted thateconomic relations between ASEAN and India have been growing well over the pastyears with bilateral trade hitting 80.8 billion USD and India’s directinvestment in ASEAN reaching 1.7 billion USD in 2018. Besides, cooperation hasbeen strengthened in multiple spheres, bringing about practical benefits to thepeoples and businesses of the two sides.

They agreed to continue promoting effectivecooperation in the spirit of the Delhi Declaration, adopted at the ASEAN-IndiaCommemorative Summit to mark the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India dialoguerelations, particularly in the fields of trade-investment, marine cooperationand marine security ensuring, road and sea transport infrastructure connectionand development, innovation, digital economy, adaptation to the FourthIndustrial Revolution, people-to-people exchange, and tourism.

They also welcomed economic ministers’ decisionto launch review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement so as to tap intothe market of over 2 billion people of both sides.

The leaders affirmed that the two sides willcoordinate to speed up and finalise negotiations on the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP) on schedule.

Additionally, ASEAN and India agreed to augmentefforts to promote dialogue, cooperation, trust building, and formation of andcompliance with standards of conduct, thus contributing to the maintenance ofpeace, security and stability in the region.

PM Modi shared deep concerns for the complexdevelopments in the East Sea, including the militarisation and other actionsthat run counter to international law of the sea. He emphasised India’sadvocacy for ASEAN’s stance, called for adherence to international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and voicedsupport for efforts to build an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC)in the East Sea that is in line with international law.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared other participants’view on the developments in the ASEAN-India strategic partnership in the recentpast.

He highlighted that as both sides will enter anew phase of cooperation in 2020 with the Plan of Action for 2021-2025, theyshould further enhance fruitful connections in the areas of common concern andbenefits like sea-based economy, development of human resources to meetrequirements in the digital economy, and tourism.

The leader also underlined the importance ofmaintaining security and stability on seas and oceans, including the East Sea –an artery of shipping lanes of the world.

He repeated ASEAN’s principled stance on theEast Sea, stressing the need to step up dialogue, build trust, form and sharestandards of conduct, seriously and fully implement the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea, and build an efficient and effective COCthat is in accordance with international law so as to keep the East Sea as awater body of peace, cooperation and prosperity./. 
VNA

See more

Illustrative photo (Photo: omy.sg)

Singapore’s gold export to US increases sharply

According to data from state agency Enterprise Singapore, volumes of gold shipped from Singapore to the US rose to about 11 tonnes in January, up 27% from December, and the largest amount since March 2022.

The DITP predicts the Chinese market for dried and preserved fruits will reach 335.3 billion CNY (46 billion USD) by 2028. (Photo: The Nation)

Thailand leads dried fruit exports to China

The DITP predicts the Chinese market for dried and preserved fruits will reach 335.3 billion CNY (46 billion USD) by 2028 and is urging Thai businesses to capitalise by developing innovative, high-quality products.

Singaporean Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (Photo: straitstimes.com)

Singapore makes efforts to upgrade social housing

Singaporean Minister of National Development Desmond Lee said on February 17 that 29,000 flats built in 1997 or earlier have been chosen for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and will get structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.

Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is encouraging the utilization of marine biopharmaceuticals. (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia promotes Marine Biopharma in healthcare

The ministry's Director General of Marine and Ocean Space Management Victor Gustaaf Manoppo stated that this initiative aims to enhance national pharmaceutical resilience while empowering coastal communities involved in the supply chain of natural medicinal ingredients.

Myanmar cracks down on online scam centres

Myanmar cracks down on online scam centres

An estimated 220,000 people were estimated to have been tricked into working for romance-investment schemes, crypto fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling in Myanmar and Cambodia in 2023.

People get vaccinated against influenza in Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thailand sees surge in influenza cases

Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said there has been a big jump in infections in February, calling on people showing symptoms that could be flu to stay home, to prevent spreading the virus.

Thai PM Paetongtarn says AI technology needs to be adopted and regulated to help drive the Thai economy. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand touts draft AI regulation

AI is expected to become a key tool in driving businesses and developing industries in Thailand, said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

At the Korea-Malaysia Trade Ministers' Meeting in 2023 (Photo: Koreaherald.com)

Malaysia, RoK resume FTA talks

The latest round of talks will take place in Kuala Lumpur from February 17 to 20, with discussions covering 11 key sectors, including goods, services, investment, and economic cooperation.