JAKARTA, 14 February 2025 – The 25th ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee (AIJCC) Meeting held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today welcomed positive developments in the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and underscored commitment to further augment the partnership.
The Meeting commended the substantial progress in implementing the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA) (2021-2025) and its Annex. ASEAN acknowledged India’s unwavering commitment in fostering a substantive, meaningful, and mutually beneficial CSP through the adoption of various ASEAN-India Leaders’ Statements, expansion and strengthening of ASEAN-India cooperation mechanisms and funding modalities, strengthening of institutional linkages, as well as implementation of numerous cooperative activities across various areas of cooperation.
Underlining ASEAN as the core pillar of its Act East policy, India reaffirmed its steadfast support for ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and the implementation of the priorities of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship encapsulated under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
ASEAN valued India’s support for ASEAN Centrality in preserving regional peace and stability and augmenting cooperation through several ASEAN-led mechanisms. The Meeting emphasised the significance of implementing the various joint statements adopted at the annual ASEAN-India Summits. The Meeting urged ASEAN and India to further amplify trade and investment, including through the comprehensive and effective utilisation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), and the swift conclusion of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review Negotiations.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening existing cooperation and identified key areas for future collaboration, including defence, digital economy, transnational crimes notably online scams, digital economy, renewable energy, civilian nuclear energy and people-to-people ties. ASEAN encouraged India to enhance its support for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and to engage with the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) as well as enhance cooperation under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan IV, while also welcoming further partnerships with ASEAN centers of excellence. This collaborative approach will foster innovation, connectivity, and sustainable growth across diverse sectors.
The Meeting pledged its full commitment to facilitating the negotiation of the draft of the new ASEAN-India POA (2026-2030). This new POA is expected to guide both sides in fully harnessing the potential of the ASEAN-India CSP, with a view to bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both sides.
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN, Elizabeth Te, and the Ambassador of India to ASEAN, Jayant N. Khobragade, co-chaired the meeting. Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, or their representatives, along with the representative of the ASEAN Secretariat, attended the meeting. The Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN attended as Observer.
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