ASEAN central to Act East policy, Pacific outlook: PM

KV Prasad
Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, November 3

India today reiterated centrality of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in its Act East policy and convergence of views with its Indo-Pacific outlook, while leaders of the 10-nation grouping noted commonality with India’s maritime initiative SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Welcoming the mutual coordination of the Indo-Pacific outlook between India and ASEAN at its 16th summit at Bangkok today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that “India’s Act East Policy is an important part of our Indo-Pacific vision. Integrated, organised and economically-developing ASEAN is in India’s basic interest”.

PM Modi said India remained committed to further strengthening the partnership through stronger surface, maritime and air connectivity as well as digital link, stating that the $1 billion line of credit would be useful for physical and digital connectivity. “Our intention is to greatly increase the traffic of people for study, research, trade and tourism,” he said.

Underscoring that implementing the decisions taken at the Commemorative Summit brought India and ASEAN closer, PM Modi said India was ready to further increasing capacity building and partnership in agriculture, science research, ICT and engineering.

He stressed that it would also bring about balance in trade. India currently has a Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN and PM welcomed the move to review it.

According to statistics with the Ministry of Commerce, the total trade between India and ASEAN in 2018-19 stood at US $96.79 billon with ASEAN imports at $59.32 billion and Indian exports at $37.47 billion. The trade balance stood in favour of ASEAN at $21.85 billion.

Both sides discussed issues of terrorism, counter-terrorism, violent extremism, cyber security and South China Sea, stressing rule-based order and adherence to international laws with freedom of navigation and over flight, Minister of External Affairs Secretary (East) Vijay Thakur Singh said at a briefing.

India’s contribution in capacity building and partnership in the fields of maritime domain, cyber security and grant of 1,000 PhDs was appreciated by ASEAN, while India announced creating Rs 50 million endowment to facilitate exchange of India-ASEAN faculty and university students.

RCEP deal talks going down to the wire

Bangkok: Hardball negotiations to seal a mega deal to create the world’s largest free trade area went down to the wire on Sunday, with India holding on to its demand for an amicable resolution of market access and tariff issues. Diplomats from several countries were still hoping for a breakthrough for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal ahead of Monday’s summit meeting. Except India, all 15 RCEP member countries were said to be on board. PTI