India
‘Improving connectivity and resilience’: PM Modi unveils 10-point plan to strengthen ASEAN-India ties | India News – Times of India
To commemorate a decade of the Act East PolicyPrime Minister Modi announced a series of people-centric initiatives, including a Youth Summit and a Start-up Festival.
“The India-ASEAN summit was productive. We discussed how we can further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and ASEAN. We look forward to deepening trade ties, cultural ties and cooperation in technology, connectivity and other similar sectors,” Prime Minister Modi said. posted on X.
Prime Minister Modi’s 10-point plan to strengthen the ASEAN-India partnership also includes doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and inviting ASEAN leaders to participate in the ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign.
Notably, in line with the Chairman’s theme of ‘Improving Connectivity and Resilience’, Prime Minister announced a ten-point plan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
The 10-point plan includes: – Celebrating the year 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, for which India would provide US$5 million for joint activities; to celebrate a decade of Act East policies through various people-centric activities including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue; organizing the ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund; doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and providing new scholarships to ASEAN students at agricultural universities in India.
The plan also includes revising the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025; increasing disaster resilience, for which India would provide $5 million; initiate a new pathway for health ministers to build healthcare resilience; initiate a regular mechanism of the ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue to strengthen digital and cyber resilience; Green Hydrogen workshop; and an invitation to ASEAN leaders to join the ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign to build climate resilience, the MEA said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi also shared a message on his
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, also talked about PM Modi’s 10-point plan and said, “On the 10th day of the 10th month of the milestone year celebrating 10 years of the Act East policy, Prime Minister @narendramodi announced a 10-point plan to strengthen the comprehensive partnership between ASEAN and India at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit.”
In another post, he said, “‘Improving connectivity and resilience’ together with the ASEAN family. Prime Minister @narendramodi today participated in the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Democratic Republic of Congo.”
“In the tenth year of the Act East Policy, the Prime Minister announced a ten-point plan to strengthen connectivity and resilience, based on the ASEAN Chairmanship 2024 theme, including physical, digital, cultural and spiritual connectivity to address cyber, disaster -, supply chain-, The Prime Minister reiterated India’s support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” the message said.
Notably, the 21st ASEAN-India Summit was held on October 10 in Vientiane, Laos. Marking a decade of India’s Act East policy, Prime Minister Modi joined ASEAN leaders to review the progress of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart its future direction. of cooperation. This was the Prime Minister’s eleventh participation in the summit.
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Terming the 21st century as the Asian century, he noted that India-ASEAN ties were crucial in steering Asia’s future.
Highlighting the vibrancy of India’s Act East policy, the Prime Minister noted that trade between India and ASEAN had doubled to over $130 billion over the past decade.
“ASEAN is today one of India’s largest trade and investment partners; established direct flight connections with seven ASEAN countries; made promising inroads into fintech collaboration with the region; and made significant progress in restoring shared cultural heritage in five ASEAN countries,” the MEA said in the release.
Prime Minister Modi also underlined the need to complete the review of the ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) in a time-bound manner to harness greater economic potential for the benefit of the ASEAN-India community. He also spoke about the progress in India-ASEAN knowledge partnership through the scholarships provided to ASEAN youth at Nalanda University.
