India reaffirms the importance of ASEAN in Act East Policy

On June 26 2024, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in his address to the opening session at the ASEAN-Indian Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR, remarked that for India, “ASEAN is the cornerstone of its Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision that was thereafter built on it. For us, political, economic and security cooperation with ASEAN is of the utmost priority.

So too are people-to-people linkages, that we are constantly seeking to expand. It is encouraging to note that our partnership acquires ever more dimensions with each passing year. While our achievements are substantial, our ambitions must always remain high”.

Dr Jaishankar said that digital, defence, maritime, connectivity, security, health & traditional medicine and cultural heritage preservation continue to be priority areas for India-ASEAN cooperation. He said that India valued the progress achieved in implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN and the increasing synergy in India’s outlook in the region.