Syllabus:

GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests 

Context: 

Prime Minister of India participated virtually in the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur under the chairmanship of Malaysia.

Key Highlights

Political and Strategic Cooperation: 

• India welcomes Timor-Leste as the 11th full member of ASEAN.
• India supports ASEAN unity, centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
• India adopts and implements the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026–2030).
• India organizes the Second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting and Maritime Exercise.
• India strengthens its role as a First Responder in regional crises with enhanced disaster preparedness and humanitarian aid cooperation.

Economic Cooperation:

• India called for the early review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA).
• Adoption of the ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Sustainable Tourism.

Maritime and Environmental Cooperation: 

• The year 2026 has been designated as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.”
• It has been announced that the East Asia Summit Maritime Heritage Festival will be held at Lothal, Gujarat, along with a conference on Maritime Security Cooperation.

Capacity Building and Skill Development: 

• India announced training for 400 professionals in renewable energy to support the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.
• India extends Quick Impact Projects to Timor-Leste.

Educational and Cultural Cooperation: India proposed establishing a Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Nalanda University.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• The ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN declaration (Bangkok Declaration). 

Present Members: 

• The Founding members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. 
• Other Members are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, Timor-Leste. 

Secretariat: The ASEAN Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Motto: The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. 

Goals:

• Promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development. 
• Maintain regional peace and stability through adherence to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes. 
• Enhance regional security and foster cooperation. 

As of 2024, ASEAN countries have a total population of 678 million people making it the third most populous region in the world and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.9 trillion.

Sources:
DD News
First post
Asean. Org
Cfr.Org