17th ASEAN-India Summit | 13 Nov 2020

Why in News

Recently, India has participated in the 17^th ASEAN-India Virtual Summit on the invitation of Vietnam, the current Chair of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The summit focused on measures to recover from the economic turmoil triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and ways to further broad-base strategic ties.

Key Points

ASEAN’s Centrality with respect to:
- India's Act East Policy:
  - Against the backdrop of aggressive moves by China, including the Ladakh standoff, India placed the ASEAN at the centre of India’s Act East policy and held that a cohesive and responsive ASEAN is essential for security and growth for all in the region.
- India's Indo-Pacific Vision and Security And Growth for All in the Region Vision:
  - India underscored the importance of strengthening convergence between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, to ensure a free, open, inclusive and rules-based region.
  - It also highlighted the importance of cooperation by ASEAN in for the Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) Vision.
- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:
  - India would explore ways to increase trade despite its exit from the 15-nation RCEP agreement in 2019.
  - The RCEP free trade agreement is expected to be signed on 15^th November 2020 between China, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and the ASEAN Members.
  - However, experts have warned that once the RCEP is adopted, trade between RCEP nations will assume primacy, which could affect trade ties with other countries including India.
- South China Sea:
  - Affirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, safety and security in the South China Sea, and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight.
  - Noted the importance of promoting a rules-based order in the region including through upholding adherence to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Regulating Covid-19 Pandemic:
  - India welcomed ASEAN’s initiatives to fight the pandemic and announced a contribution of USD 1 million to Covid-19 ASEAN Response Fund.
  - It also underlined the importance of cooperation and regular exchanges in the field of traditional medicines as a source of healthy and holistic living.
- Trade and Investment:
  - India underlined the importance of diversification and resilience of supply chains for post-Covid-19 economic recovery.
  - India called for an early review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), which is pending for a long time.
- Connectivity:
  - Underscoring the importance of greater physical and digital connectivity, India reiterated its offer of USD 1 billion Line of Credit to support ASEAN connectivity.
India’s Significance Highlighted by ASEAN:
- Towards promoting peace and stability in the region and India’s support to ASEAN centrality.
- Welcomed the adoption of the new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2021-2025.
- Acknowledged India’s capacity-building initiatives, including the PhD Fellowship Programme at IITs and setting up of Centres for Excellence in Software Development and Training.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

It is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation.
It was established on 8^th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Ten Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Chairmanship: It rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.
ASEAN countries have a total population of 650 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 2.8 trillion. It is India’s 4^th largest trading partner with about USD 86.9 billion in trade.
The group has played a central role in Asian economic integration, signing six free-trade agreements with other regional economies and helping spearhead negotiations for what could be the world’s largest free trade pact.

Way Forward

A cohesive and responsive ASEAN is essential for security and growth for all in the region and cementing the connection between India and ASEAN on all fronts, including economic, social, digital, financial, maritime, is an important priority area.
ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilisational ties. A fruitful exchange with ASEAN leaders and a successful Summit will further strengthen this relationship.

Source: PIB