Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam speaks at the ASEAN-India Connectivity Summit (Source: VNA) New Delhi (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Information andCommunications Phan Tam is attending the ASEAN-India Connectivity Summit whichopened in India’s capital city of New Delhi on December 11.
Addressing the event, Tam highlighted close cooperation between ASEAN and Indiaover the past 25 years to promote peace, stability and prosperity, for the sakeof people of the two sides.
He held that the summit will create an opportunity for ASEAN and India toexchange viewpoints and information about cooperation in key spheres likeinformation and communications technology (ICT), transport, education and humanresources development.
ASEAN prioritises digital and natural connectivity with dialogue countrieswhile implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, he said, notingthat ASEAN welcomes new commitments made by the Indian Government to promotingcollaboration in technical and financial support to group.
Expressing his belief that the summit will contribute to raising theASEAN-India strategic partnership to a new high, Tam affirmed Vietnam’s supportfor closer cooperation between the two sides.
In his remarks, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V.K.Singh citedIndian Prime Minister Narenda Modi as saying that enhancing connectivity withASEAN is one of India’s top priorities.
He underlined the need for the two sides to promptly modernise their maritimeconnectivity, adding that India stands ready to share its experience with ASEANin the digital sector, especially in rural areas.
Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is alsoMinister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,said that India has proposed a credit package worth 1 billion USD to fast trackprojects on road, maritime and aviationconnectivity with ASEAN.
Besides, India has also established a project development fund valued at 77million USD to develop manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar andVietnam, he added.
An agreement on cooperation in sea transport between ASEAN and India is also underdiscussion, he said, noting that the two sides have also agreed to set up aworking group on sea transport between India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnamto ensure feasibility of sea transport networks.
The summit, themed “Poweringdigital and physical linkages for Asia in the 21st century,” will last untilDecember 12.-VNA
VNA
