ASEAN-India Visit Strengthens 20 Years of Cooperation

After 20 years of partnership, ASEAN and India has renewed their commitment to strengthen cooperation and coordination.

To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations, the Ministry of External Affairs of India invited the ASEAN Secretariat delegation to visit to India from 6-11 August 2012. The delegation travelled to New Delhi and Bangalore to meet and strengthen coordination with officials from various Indian ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Indian Space Research Organisation, and the Indian Institute of Science; which are key proponents of ASEAN-India cooperation projects and activities.

During the visit, the delegation also participated in a Round Table of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks. H.E. Nyan Lynn, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political Security Community, delivered a special address that emphasised the fruitful partnership for the past two decades. Looking into the future of their partnership, DSG Lynn said, “As Asia becomes the engine of growth for the global economy, ASEAN and India must capitalise on their partnership through enhanced connectivity to continue to reap benefits.”

The ASEAN Secretariat delegation was comprised of officers from various divisions supporting ASEAN-India cooperation including: external relations, agriculture, environment, energy, science and technology, information technology, and culture and youth affairs.