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UPDATE

INDIA-ASEAN educational and cultural co-operation
between India and ASEAN
Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Thailand, (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations). Speaking at the 5th Round
Indonesia and Singapore Table of ASEAN India Network of
Think-Tank in Jakarta on 6 January
External Affairs Minister Sushma coordinator country for India-ASEAN
2018, the External Affairs Minister
Swaraj’s visit to Thailand, Indonesia relations in the middle of 2018.
Swaraj also remarked that for India,
and Singapore to deepen India’s ties India, Indonesia natural partners in
relations with ASEAN region is a key
with key ASEAN countries has been peace and prosperity, says
priority and is at the core of India’s
productive. Her three-nation visit was Sushma Swaraj
Act East Policy.
the part of New Delhi’s efforts to hold India and Indonesia as close maritime
Laying emphasis on it’s Act East
bilateral interactions in various neighbours are “natural partners” in
policy, India invited ASEAN leaders
sectors with the countries of South peace and prosperity, External Affairs
as guests for the Republic Day event
East Asian region within the framework Minister Sushma Swaraj said as she
on January 26.
of India’s Act East Policy. During her held talks with her Indonesian
India’s dialogue partnership with
visit, Swaraj addressed the Indian counterpart on January 5, 2018.
ASEAN has evolved into a strategic
diaspora at the ASEAN- “We are two major countries in the
partnership and the Indian diaspora
India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Indo-Pacific region. This region is
provides a platform for stronger ties
in Singapore and reaffirmed India’s among the most dynamic regions in
with the grouping, External Affairs
commitment to the ASEAN. The the world. We agreed to develop a
Minister Sushma Swaraj said
Association of Southeast Asian synergetic relationship to harness the
addressing the Indian diaspora at the
Nations (ASEAN) is India’s 4th potential of Indo-Pacific region and to
ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya
largest trading partner, accounting meet the challenges that the region
Divas in Singapore. Swaraj
for 10.2 per cent of its total trade. faces,” Swaraj said after co-chairing
reaffirmed India’s commitment to
India is the ASEAN’s 7th largest the fifth meeting of the Joint
ASEAN.
trading partner. The ASEAN Commission with Indonesian Foreign
As India’s economy grows its ties
comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Minister Retno Marsudi.
will deepen, its trade and investment
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, The meeting was held in a warm
flow will grow emphasising that
Myanmar, the Philippines, and friendly atmosphere and the two
ASEAN was a part of India’s Act East
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. sides reviewed the whole gamut of
Policy.
Swaraj was in Singapore on the last bilateral ties. There was clear
She highlighted the presence of
leg of the 5-day tour. recognition that India and Indonesia,
Assam chief minister Sarbananda
Sushma Swaraj discusses as two close maritime neighbours, are
Sonowal at the gathering and
connectivity, security issues with natural partners in peace and
underlined that the North East will
Thai counterpart prosperity.
grow and become a bridge to South
External Affairs Minister Sushma The two expressed their strong
East Asia. Our North East region will
Swaraj, on 4 January 2018, discussed opposition to any selective
prosper when it is better connected
a range of issues of connectivity, approaches to deal with this global
to South East Asia and when the
security and cultural cooperation with menace, and called upon all
North East becomes our bridge to
her Thai counterpart in Bangkok to countries to stop providing South East Asia, we will be closer to
keep up with the growing momentum sponsorship to terrorism and realising our hopes for India and
of bilateral ties. During the first day of prevent their territories from being ASEAN ties.
her visit, she held extensive talks with used for establishing terrorist safe She called for addressing the
Thailand Foreign Minister Don havens. common challenges in the region like
Pramudwinai. All aspects of bilateral 5th Roundtable of ASEAN-India creating skills for the digital age,
relations were discussed with Network of Think-Tanks generating jobs in the age of
particular focus on political, defence Minister for External Affairs Sushma disruption, meeting the need of rapid
and economic ties during her visit to Swaraj urged think tanks to strengthen urbanisation, protecting the bio-
Thailand. consultation and suggest ways to diversity and making the energy
Thailand will assume the role of enhance maritime, commercial, sources cleaner.
March 2018 Competition Wizard 43