NewDelhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs NguyenQuoc Dung highlighted the role of maritime connectivity between the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India at the 10th Delhi Dialogue on July19.

Addressingthe event, Deputy FM Dung emphasised the long-standing maritime links betweenASEAN member countries and India, as well as the role of maritime shippingroutes through ASEAN and India in international trade. 

Maritime cooperation has offered opportunitiesand challenges for both sides, he said.

Maritimeconnectivity is one of the key areas that the two sides need to take advantageof in order to strengthen their economic and trade cooperation, Dung said,proposing they spare no effort to conclude negotiations on the ASEAN-Indiamaritime transportation agreement. 

ASEANand India should strengthen and develop maritime infrastructure, said theDeputy FM, including hard infrastructure such as seaport systems, logistics andtransport; and soft infrastructure like policies, rules, and regulations to connectthe transport of goods and relevant services.

Heunderlined the need to preserve the marine environment alongside economicdevelopment. 

TheDeputy FM applauded the results of the second ASEAN-India seminar on blue marineeconomy, co-chaired by India and Vietnam, in New Delhi on July 18, followingthe first in Vietnam in November 2017.

Dungand others from ASEAN member countries and India emphasised the need tomaintain marine security and safety as a prerequisite for both sides to developtheir maritime economies. He specified that countries involved need to ensurethe principles on freedom of navigation and aviation, respect international law,including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while also strengtheningcooperation to tackle transnational challenges such as pirates, humantrafficking, and weapon and drug smuggling.

The Delhi Dialogue is held annually to discussmeasures to implement the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. The 2018 dialoguesaw more than 200 delegates, including ministers, government officials,policymakers, scholars, business leaders, and organisation representatives fromboth sides. Governors of India’s northeastern states were also present at theevent to promote relations between the region and ASEAN.

TheDelhi Dialogue focused discussions on a series of issues such as the role ofIndia’s northeastern provinces in cooperation with ASEAN countries; ASEAN-Indiapartnership and the role of marine cooperation in bilateral affiliation; andcollaboration in trade, investment, technology, e-commerce, support for small-and medium-sized enterprises, tourism, and construction of smart cities.-VNA