By IANS,
New Delhi : India Thursday called for intensifying political and security negotiations with the 10-member ASEAN as the partnership was elevated to a strategic level.
Addressing the plenary of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to mark 20 years of India’s partnership with the major regional bloc, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India’s engagement with the ASEAN, which began in 1992 with a thrust on trade, has “also become increasingly strategic in its content”.
“Our political dialogue has grown, our consultations in regional forums have intensified, and our defence and counter-terrorism cooperation have expanded,” he said in his address.
While stressing on their historical links, he said their future was “inter-linked and a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region is crucial for our own progress and prosperity”.
He said the ASEAN has emerged as the “principal architect and driver of economic and security structures and institutions” in the region.
“ASEAN centrality and leadership are essential elements for the success of these forums and India fully supports ASEAN as the lynchpin of these efforts,” he said.
The prime minister called for intensify political and security talks between the two sides including in regional forums such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.
“We should work together more purposefully for the evolution of an open, balanced, inclusive and transparent regional architecture. The growing role and responsibilities of ASEAN and India in global affairs also call for increased consultation on a broader range of international developments,” the prime minister said.
He called for India and ASEAN to intensify their engagement for maritime security and safety “for freedom of navigation and for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law. We should also foster regional cooperation to counter piracy and respond to natural disasters”.
The prime minister’s remarks assume importance in the wake of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and many countries of the East Asia region seeking a code of conduct for the use of the sea, a major maritime trading point
The two sides also concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement on services and investments. India and ASEAN already have a FTA on goods in place. The two-way trade is $80 billion and estimated to cross $100 billion by 2015.