New Delhi: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India have pledged to strengthen their maritime security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
This was stated by the ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, during his five-day visit to India, which concluded on Wednesday. During the visit, Hourn had extensive talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the steps to implement the Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity. The talks also focused on increasing trade and investment, tourism, and connectivity in the region.T
he US believes that the Indian Ocean Region is of strategic importance for global trade, food and energy security, and marine biodiversity. India is the fourth-largest trading partner of ASEAN, accounting for approximately 10.6% of its total trade. The two countries are committed to enhancing their cooperation in areas like maritime safety, security, and domain awareness to strengthen their maritime security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity aims to promote sustainable development, inclusive growth, and resilient infrastructure in the region. The IORA, which was established in 1997 and consists of 23 countries, including India, Australia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia, has identified cooperation in the areas of maritime security, inter-regional connectivity, sustainable development, blue economy, green economy, digital economy, and disaster mitigation management.
The cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which was founded in 1971 and consists of 18 countries in the Pacific Ocean, is also aimed at strengthening the security and cooperation of the region.
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