According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, ASEAN leaders appreciated India's commitment to placing ASEAN at the center of its Act East Policy as well as India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), making a positive contribution to the comprehensive development of ASEAN-India relations.
In 2023, two-way trade turnover will reach 100.7 billion USD, India's FDI in ASEAN will reach 5.63 billion USD. The number of Indian tourists to ASEAN in 2023 will reach 4.29 million, a sharp increase compared to 2.39 million in 2022.
On the basis of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two sides agreed to promote people-centered development cooperation, connectivity cooperation, application of science and technology, digital transformation, while expanding cooperation in energy transition, climate change response, blue economy, counter-terrorism and transnational crime, and medical capacity building. The two sides also continued to maintain dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and organize maritime exercises to ensure security.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that ASEAN and India continue to foster a common foundation in culture, society, and people, and develop increasingly strong and comprehensive bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister affirmed that, on the solid common foundation and long-standing solidarity, ASEAN wishes to join India, a close neighbor, sincere friend and comprehensive trusted partner, in actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, prosperity and sustainable development of each side, in the region and in the world.
Emphasizing that the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership needs to share a common long-term vision for a peaceful, cooperative and developed region and world, the Prime Minister suggested that both sides promote dialogue, cooperation and trust building, resolve disputes by peaceful means, respond to common challenges, shape an open and inclusive regional structure, and uphold international law.
The Prime Minister welcomed, appreciated and supported India's initiatives such as the Solar Alliance Initiative, Biofuel Alliance, Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Alliance, and also asked India to support pharmaceutical development.
Proposing to strengthen joint action to develop relations dynamically, effectively and substantially, the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN and India need to promote breakthrough economic-trade-investment cooperation, promote mutually supportive strengths and further open each other's markets.
The Prime Minister also proposed expanding cooperation in science, technology and innovation, especially in the fields of core technology, semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence, digital economy, training of high-quality human resources, related to cloud computing, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.
Along with strengthening coordination to contribute to the common efforts to respond to climate change and transform energy towards green, clean and sustainable direction, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that India will continue to cooperate and support the effective implementation of the Mekong - Ganga cooperation framework, contributing to promoting inclusive growth, equitable and sustainable development in the whole region.
At the end of the conference, the leaders adopted the Declaration on Enhancing the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region and the Joint Statement on Promoting Digital Transformation.
