ASEAN an important pillar of India's Act East Policy: official
The 27th AISOM reviewed the status of implementation of decisions made at the ASEAN-India Summit/ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (PMC+1) across the three pillars of engagement, namely political-security, economy and socio-culture.
Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (Photo: Flickr)
New Delhi (VNA) - ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India's Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific, affirmed Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 12.
The official co-chaired the 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) in Manila, the Philippines, with his Philippine counterpart Theresa P. Lazaro, the MEA said in an official statement. The Philippines is the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.
The MEA said that the 27th AISOM reviewed the status of implementation of decisions made at the ASEAN-India Summit/ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (PMC+1) across the three pillars of engagement, namely political-security, economy and socio-culture.
The Senior Officials appreciated progress in the implementation of the 10 Point Proposal of the Indian Prime Minister announced at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Laos in 2024 to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including the designation of 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.
According to the ministry, key issues of discussion included tourism cooperation, early completion of review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), and digital, maritime, connectivity, health, innovation and development partnerships. Views on regional and global issues of mutual interest were also exchanged.
Not🐟ablꦛy, the preparations for the ASEAN-India Summit and ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held later this year in Malaysia were also discussed. The ASEAN side appreciated India's continued support to the bloc and to the ASEAN-led architecture in the region./.
Vietnam and India pledged to deepen their cooperation in defence, security, trade, investment, science and technology, climate change response, maritime cooperation, and maritime security.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised their shared commitment to peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, along with their determination to deepen the long-term strategic partnership between the countries.
In a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the New Year 2025, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya shared insights about the future of the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as potential areas of cooperation that will help further deepen the bilateral relations.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
