Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam (Source: VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – Measures to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN-India Action Plan 2016-2020 were the focus of the 16th meeting of the ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 29.
Co-chaired by Head of the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to ASEAN Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam and Indian Ambassador to ASEAN Suresh. K. Redd, the annual meeting took place in the context that the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership has been expanded in many fields, from politics and security to economics and socio-culture.
Indian delegates appreciated ASEAN’s recent development, especially the formation of the ASEAN Community by the end of 2015, and asserted India’s support for the group’s efforts to reinforce the regional structure and cooperation mechanisms led by ASEAN.
They committed to finishing the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on schedule and ratifying the Framework Agreement on Aviation between the two sides.
They acknowledged the positive results in performing the ASEAN-India Action Plan 2016-2020, as nearly one quarter of the plan was completed in the first six months of this year, including activities to forge links between the two sides in security and politics, economics, socio-culture, and inter-sectoral cooperation.
They also discussed and put forward initiatives to outline cooperation priorities in the next three years, aiming to effectuate the Plan, and prepare activities to mark the 25th founding anniversary of ASEAN-India relations in 2017.
The negotiation of a memorandum of understanding on forming an ASEAN-India Centre was basically finished at the meeting.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam spoke highly of the ASEAN-India cooperation mechanism in recent times, saying that he hopes for even stronger links between in the future.
He asked the Indian side to work closely with the bloc’s member nations for peace, security, cooperation and development in the region, especially in the East Sea, and continue supporting the association in promoting the ASEAN Community’s development.
As the country coordinating ASEAN-India relations, Vietnam will do its utmost to further bolster and deepen the ties, he stated.
The ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee’s 17th meeting is scheduled to take place in Indonesia in 2017.-VNA
