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ASEAN-India Summit: Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
What’s the News?
- The 22nd ASEAN-India Summit was held, with India's Prime Minister participating virtually. The summit was hosted by Malaysia, the ASEAN Chair for 2025.
- Discussions focused on the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” and reviewed the progress of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
- A major development was the formal induction of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN, its first expansion in 26 years.
Key Announcements & Cooperation
- Year of Maritime Cooperation: 2026 was designated as the “Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation”.
- This will focus on collaboration in maritime security, the blue economy, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
- Education & Culture: India proposed the establishment of a Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Nalanda University.
- Maritime Heritage: A proposal was made to hold the East Asia Summit Maritime Heritage Festival at the historic site of Lothal, Gujarat.
- Shared Vision: Leaders highlighted the alignment between the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and India’s goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Economic Focus: AITIGA Review
- Accelerated Review: Leaders called for an accelerated review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
- Trade Imbalance: The review is a key priority for India to address its significant trade deficit with the bloc, which reportedly grew to $43.57 billion in 2022-23.
- Modernising the Pact: The goal is to make the agreement more balanced, modern, and trade-facilitative by addressing issues with rules of origin and other non-tariff barriers.
- Trade Volume: ASEAN is India's fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade standing at approximately $122.6 billion.
About ASEAN
- Full Form: Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
- Members: The bloc now comprises 11 member states following the formal induction of Timor-Leste.
- India-ASEAN Relations Timeline:
- 1992: Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
- 2012: Elevated to Strategic Partnership.
- 2022: Elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).