The External Affairs Minister met his counterparts today at the 9th ASEAN-India Post Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The Ministers reviewed the current status of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership and agreed to further strengthen it.
2. They agreed that India and ASEAN must upgrade and strengthen their level of engagement in the face of the new security and economic architecture being envisaged in the East Asia Region. There was unanimity that India and ASEAN could strengthen regional efforts to face trans-national security threats such as international terrorism, maritime security, piracy, natural disasters and pandemics, energy security, improving infrastructural development and meeting requirements for education, health care and economic growth in the region. In addition to these issues, discussions also covered the international financial architecture, food security and progress in other regional structures within Asia.
3. The Ministers strongly condemned the terrorist acts in Mumbai on July 13, 2011 and expressed their deep condolences to the families of the victims and the people injured in the blasts. There was strong feeling amongst EAS member countries that the trans-national menace of terrorism must be countered with collective resolve from the international community to deny all manner of support and sustenance to the perpetrators of terrorism.
2. They agreed that India and ASEAN must upgrade and strengthen their level of engagement in the face of the new security and economic architecture being envisaged in the East Asia Region. There was unanimity that India and ASEAN could strengthen regional efforts to face trans-national security threats such as international terrorism, maritime security, piracy, natural disasters and pandemics, energy security, improving infrastructural development and meeting requirements for education, health care and economic growth in the region. In addition to these issues, discussions also covered the international financial architecture, food security and progress in other regional structures within Asia.
3. The Ministers strongly condemned the terrorist acts in Mumbai on July 13, 2011 and expressed their deep condolences to the families of the victims and the people injured in the blasts. There was strong feeling amongst EAS member countries that the trans-national menace of terrorism must be countered with collective resolve from the international community to deny all manner of support and sustenance to the perpetrators of terrorism.
4. EAM shared India's approach to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to be hosted in Delhi in December 2012. Noting the progress in different sectors of India-ASEAN cooperation, the Ministers were hopeful of meeting the target of US$ 70 billion of trade and investment between India and ASEAN by 2012. They agreed that early conclusion of the ongoing negotiations on the India-ASEAN Services & Investment Agreement is in mutual interest. They noted that the 1st Meeting of the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group was scheduled for 2-3, August 2011. The Ministers urged their Ministerial colleagues dealing with agriculture, trade, finance, transport, S&T and education to further re-inforce the physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity between India and ASEAN.
6. The EAS Foreign Ministers Consultations later the same day reviewed the evolution of EAS in a relatively short period of time as one of the most important mechanisms for enhancing international cooperation in Asia. The Ministers shared the view that the East Asia region comprises some of the most dynamic economies and emerging powers in the world.
6. The EAS Foreign Ministers Consultations later the same day reviewed the evolution of EAS in a relatively short period of time as one of the most important mechanisms for enhancing international cooperation in Asia. The Ministers shared the view that the East Asia region comprises some of the most dynamic economies and emerging powers in the world.
7. The Ministers discussed the progress of cooperation in the five priority areas of finance, energy, education, pandemics and disaster management as well as ASEAN Connectivity and regional economic integration through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on East Asia (CEPEA), which EAM emphasized, together with other EAS Foreign Ministers, should be the cornerstone of progress on deepening economic integration in Asia. EAM informed the participating countries about the Workshop on Rules of Origin which is being held in New Delhi on July 25-26, 2011. It was felt that regional connectivity, including, inter alia, the development of the Mekong-India Economic Corridor, suggested by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), would provide an important impetus to economic connectivity and integration in the region. EAM suggested that the objective of financial cooperation in Asia should be to leverage the combined strength of EAS countries for mutual benefit of all EAS members.
8. The Ministers were also informed about the EAS Education Ministers Meeting on July 17-18, 2011 in Bali which was well attended. EAS Foreign Ministers outlined their interest in the revival of Nalanda University as an icon of Asian renaissance. In view of the 5th EAS Energy Ministers Meeting scheduled in mid-September 2011 in Brunei Darussalam and the EAS Environment Ministers Meeting in October 2011 in Cambodia, it was felt that energy and environment must find place amongst issues of priority on the EAS agenda. EAM said that a collaborative regional approach would help transcend individual limitations on capacity. India has been a strong supporter of the guiding principle “Energy Access for All” in all international discussions on energy related issues. EAM also reiterated the priority given by India to improve energy efficiency and increase access to renewable energy with its National Action Plan on Climate Change and its active participation in the UNFCCC process. EAM emphasized that food & energy security issues were vital for sustained growth and must find place on the agenda for the EAS Summit in November 2011.
9. In view of the particular geo-climatic conditions of the Asia-Pacific, & the range of natural disasters in the region from floods, droughts, cyclones & earthquakes, the Ministers reiterated the significance of disaster management to economies of the Asia-Pacific region. They also called for transparency, dialogue & cooperation to augment confidence for coordinated responses to non-traditional maritime security threats. Discussions also covered the relevance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
10. There was agreement that the EAS Leaders led forum would benefit from a strengthening of the EAS Foreign Ministers Consultation process as also the strengthening of the SOM process.
9. In view of the particular geo-climatic conditions of the Asia-Pacific, & the range of natural disasters in the region from floods, droughts, cyclones & earthquakes, the Ministers reiterated the significance of disaster management to economies of the Asia-Pacific region. They also called for transparency, dialogue & cooperation to augment confidence for coordinated responses to non-traditional maritime security threats. Discussions also covered the relevance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
10. There was agreement that the EAS Leaders led forum would benefit from a strengthening of the EAS Foreign Ministers Consultation process as also the strengthening of the SOM process.