Programme launched to mark 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations

The ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute in New Delhi and the ASEAN-India Centre at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) launched their first joint programme entitled “ASEAN-India Development Partnership Programme (AIDPP),” a training and capacity building programme for scholars and practitioners of ASEAN countries and India.
Programme launched to mark 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations ảnh 1ASEAN and India hold a ministerial meeting on August 4. (Photo: VNA)
New Delhi (VNA) - The ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute in New Delhi and the ASEAN-India Centre at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) launched their first joint programme entitled “ASEAN-India Development Partnership Programme (AIDPP),” a training and capacity building programme for scholars and practitioners of ASEAN countries and India.
The programme, aiming to strengthen the people-to-people and institutional linkages between India and ASEAN, is an activity towards the 30th anniversary of their relations in 2022 which will be designated as the“ASEAN-India Friendship Year.”

Held virtually from August 16-20, this week-long trainingprogramme comprised lectures by eminent scholars on various facets ofASEAN-India relations.

In his inaugural remarks, Vivash Vidu Sapkal, JointSecretary (South) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said the ASEAN-Indiastrategic partnership lies on a strong foundation of the shared historical,geographical and civilizational ties. “This relationship has gone beyond itscultural and economic dimensions. India and ASEAN share the pluralistic naturesof our societies encompassing many religions of the world and its diversecultures”, he added.

Prof Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of the RIS, said thatin the post-COVID era, ASEAN and India have to work in a collaborative mannerfor the successful realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs); andthat fintech is the new way forward for vast strategic initiatives.

Choi Shing Kwok from ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute highlighted the warm, robust, and mutuallybeneficial ties cultivated by ASEAN and India over the past three decades,their fruitful partnership in ASEAN-led mechanisms as well as their strongcommitment to multilateralism and regionalism for advancing peace and stabilityin the region.

Notwithstanding this, the full potential of relations hasnot been realized, he said, adding that the conditions for deeper engagementbetween ASEAN and India have changed. In the face of the changing globalgeo-strategic environment, particularly the US-China competition, and theeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN and India are now poised forrapid and accelerated progress in further deepening their engagement.

Both parties, he continued, can look to augment India’ssecurity and strategic presence in Southeast Asia to reinforce norms and valuesthat are deeply held by their peoples.

India is expected to remain an important strategic partner forASEAN for the decades ahead, he noted.

Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of India,this five-day training programme included lectures on ASEAN-India relationsand strategic imperatives, the deepening of ASEAN-India trade integration andthe changing profile of ASEAN-India investment relations and B2B engagements,multilateralism in the post COVID-19 world, ASEAN-India in the Indo-Pacificregion, and issues on ASEAN-India production networks in the face of theshifting global supply chains./.

     
VNA

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