This was stated by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan at the meeting between the bloc’s foreign ministers and India organized by New Delhi to commemorate the 30th anniversary of relations with the regional bloc of 10 nations.
Jaishankar and Balakrishnan are the co-chairs of the two-day meeting that started on Thursday, the Press Trust of India agency said.
In their statement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism based on the principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other treaties and conventions.
The foreign ministers of India and the bloc consisting of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar agreed to maintain an open and inclusive regional cooperation framework.
The statement said they will continue to strengthen the ASEAN-India strategic partnership across the spectrum of political, security, economic, socio-cultural and development cooperation.
Cooperation on preventing and countering terrorism, the rise of radicalization and violent extremism, and transnational crime was also welcomed.
It was agreed to collaborate on vaccine manufacturing and distribution, generic drug research and innovation, collaboration on traditional medicines, strengthening public health infrastructures, and improving capacities for preparing for and responding to pandemic emergencies and public health .
On trade, they agreed to realize the full potential through better use and effective implementation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, as well as early start of the review of the Trade in Goods Agreement, and also strengthening regional connectivity, including physical and digital.
The meeting emphasized the completion and operation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and its eastward extension to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as improved air and sea connectivity.
The parties will deepen cooperation on sustainable management of natural resources and increased use of renewable, clean and low-carbon energy, including offshore wind power, green hydrogen, smart grids and sustainable development.
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