Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) attends the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (Photo VNA)New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnam’s PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined other leaders from the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India at a summit in New Delhi on January25 to celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of ASEAN-India dialoguepartnership.
During the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit themed“Shared Values, Common Destiny”, leaders discussed the development prospects ofthe relations and agreed on measures to enhance their strategic partnership.
They expressed pleasure at the development ofASEAN-India relations over the past 25 years, with India one of the top 10trade partners of ASEAN and two-way trade reaching 58.45 billion USD in 2016.
The two sides established more than 30 dialoguemechanisms from high level to ministerial level and working groups whilecultural and people-to-people exchanges have developed strongly.
Both sides also agreed to deepen the bilateralstrategic partnership in all aspects via full implementation of the ASEAN-Indiaaction plan in 2016-2020.
The two sides will continue reinforcingall-level dialogue mechanisms and enhance cooperation in regional peace andsecurity issues, preventing terrorism, extremism and cross-border crimes.
They vowed to step up trade relations andcollaboration in navigation, aviation, information technology and supportsmall-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote business exchanges.
ASEAN and India also committed to increasingcooperation in culture, education-training, solar energy development,environmental protection and biodiversity.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiteratedhis commitment to support ASEAN to narrow development gaps and expandcooperation with the bloc, especially physical and digital connectivity, inaddition to making use of the pledged one-billion-USD credit package.
Earlier, ASEAN and Indian leaders met to talkcooperation in marine security in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions.
They agreed to consider maritime cooperation apillar in ASEAN-India strategic partnership in the future.
They will push ahead with dialogues and cooperationthrough regional mechanisms to maintain peace, stability, security, safety andfreedom of navigation and aviation as well as address disputes via peacefulmeans and in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Conventionson the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The countries agreed to cooperate in search andrescue at sea, protecting the marine environment and ecosystem, preserving andmaking sustainable use of maritime resources.
On the occasion of the ASEAN-India CommemorativeSummit, the two sides’ leaders affirmed to support the full implementation ofthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and soonfinalise the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
At the end of the summit, ASEAN and Indianleaders adopted the Delhi Statement mapping out visions to promote thebilateral strategic partnership in the years to come.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc highlighted the development in ASEAN-India relations over the past 25years in politics, economics, science-technology, culture, people-to-peopleexchanges and development cooperation.
The PM proposed the two sides strengthen tradeand investment cooperation, regarding this as a driving force for ASEAN-India ties,and use scientific and technological accomplishments of the fourth IndustrialRevolution to speed up development.
He suggested embracing land and marineconnectivity, promoting people-to-people exchanges, forging cooperation forregional peace, stability and coping with traditional and non-traditionalsecurity challenges.
Regarding cooperating in marine security, the PMurged ASEAN and India to strengthen coordination and respect law, including the1982 UNCLOS while focusing on measures to deal with maritime challenges anddevelop a green sea-based economy.
He called for the early completion of the marinetransportation agreement and information sharing in marine policies as well ascooperation in the inter-regional Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
As part of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit,PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other ASEAN and Indian leaders engaged in banquetschaired by the Indian PM and President along with a ceremony to launch apostage stamp collection marking the 25th anniversary of bilateral dialoguepartnership, and a photo exhibition featuring ASEAN-India relations.-VNA
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