(KPL/VNA) ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India's Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific, affirmed Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 12.

The official co-chaired the 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) in Manila, the Philippines, with his Philippine counterpart Theresa P. Lazaro, the MEA said in an official statement. The Philippines is the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.

The MEA said that the 27th AISOM reviewed the status of implementation of decisions made at the ASEAN-India Summit/ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (PMC+1) across the three pillars of engagement, namely political-security, economy and socio-culture.

The Senior Officials appreciated progress in the implementation of the 10 Point Proposal of the Indian Prime Minister announced at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Laos in 2024 to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including the designation of 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.

According to the ministry, key issues of discussion included tourism cooperation, early completion of review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), and digital, maritime, connectivity, health, innovation and development partnerships. Views on regional and global issues of mutual interest were also exchanged.

Notably, the preparations for the ASEAN-India Summit and ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held later this year in Malaysia were also discussed. The ASEAN side appreciated India's continued support to the bloc and to the ASEAN-led architecture in the region.

KPL