As we commemorate International Youth Day last August, we are reminded of the vital role that young people play in shaping a brighter future for the world. This is especially true for the ASEAN region, which has a young population of 224.2 million individuals. Of this group, 53% are part of Generation Z (aged 15-25), while 47% fall into the Millennial category (26-35 years old) . As such, youth development is a key priority. ASEAN views young people not only as the leaders of tomorrow but also as the partners of today. Therefore, engaging and empowering the youth is crucial for enhancing the region’s dynamics and future growth.
ASEAN’s Commitment Beyond Borders: The 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit
Furthermore, it is important to note that ASEAN’s commitment to youth progress extends beyond its Member States. ASEAN is also committed to fostering bonds with the youth of its dialogue partners. This commitment was exemplified, among others, by the 4th iteration of the ASEAN-India Youth Summit held in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, in February 2023. This initiative of getting together youth leaders from ASEAN and India on a common platform started in August 2017 when the First ASEAN-India Youth Summit was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This was followed by the 2nd edition in February 2019 in Guwahati, Assam; and the 3rd edition virtually in June 2020 during pandemic time.
This event was a gathering of young leaders from both ASEAN countries and India, coming together to strengthen their ties, on the occasion of 30 years of establishment of ASEAN-India relations, and learn from each other. The summit was organized by, as the implementing agencies, the India Foundation and the ASEAN Foundation, with support from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India; and the Indian Mission to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat from Jakarta. It brought together 175 young leaders, 100 from ASEAN and 75 from India, aged 21 to 35, for four days of discussions and activities.
The theme of the summit was “Strengthening ASEAN-India Partnership in the Indo-Pacific.” The participants came from various fields like politics, media, education, science, and technology. They discussed important topics such as Good Governance & Regional Development, Digital Partnerships for the 21st Century, ASEAN-India Connectivity, and Shared Cultural Ethos and Promotion of People-to-People Ties.
The Inaugural Session of Youth Summit was addressed by Shri G. Kishan Reddy , the then Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Govt. of India and Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General, ASEAN .
Active Participation and Engagement
During the forum, the delegates met great minds that share their ideas and thoughts related to the theme of the summit. The speeches created opportunities for the delegates to learn about the importance of ASEAN-India ties and cooperation while exercising their analytical and critical thinking skills, as reflected by the questions they asked to the speakers.
Besides listening to presentations by resource persons and keynote speakers, the youth participants at the summit actively engaged in discussions and were given the opportunity to ask questions as well as sharing their ideas and perspectives. This opportunity allowed them to represent the voices of the youth from their respective nations, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive dialogue.
Furthermore, participants also had the chance to give a presentation about their countries and how the Summit fostered closer connections between ASEAN countries and India. A presenter from Thailand noted that besides the topic discussed, the event strengthened people-to-people connections. During his presentation, he remarked, “I hope that this will promote the emotional understandings between us.” This emotional understanding further opened up new opportunities to build fruitful interactions. As he expressed, “The events [during the Summit] brought us together and exchanging ideas and meanings.
Inspiring Moments from the Summit
The Summit provided many important inspirations for the participants, ranging from inspirations for personal growth to the value of doing fun activities together to strengthen ties between ASEAN countries and India.
“My favourite session was led by Deepa Malik, a paralympic gold medallist. As a sports person myself, I feel connected with her. She covers the basis of resilience and perseverance, to not let anything take you down even if the challenge is too big,” shared Amar Syahirah Haji Abd Murad, a youth participant from Brunei Darussalam.
As the summit particularly aimed to promote friendship and understanding between the youths of ASEAN and India, through site visits and cultural trips, the participants experienced India’s rise as a technologically advanced nation and learned about its spiritual heritage.
What made the Summit even more interesting was its lighter but inspiring side—it wasn’t all about deep discussions. Amar, reflecting on the fun and relaxed side of the summit, said, “We shared jokes, sang together, and even found things that we have in common. The open mic and cultural festivities promote bonding amongst the delegates. We shared each other’s music and dances and just had fun.” Having these fun activities together is very important to build the bond, besides exchanging thoughts and knowledge about the dynamic of the region and the ties between ASEAN and India.
A Collaborative Action between India and ASEAN
The successful collaboration between India and ASEAN in also clearly demonstrated by the significant engagement of the two key implementing agencies: the India Foundation and the ASEAN Foundation. The remarkable achievements of this Summit are a testament to the strong commitment of both organizations to empower youth, the leaders of tomorrow. By creating platforms for dialogue, collaboration, and skill-building, and fostering regional cooperation and youth engagement, they have contributed to building a more interconnected and resilient community. Initiatives like the ASEAN-India Youth Summit exemplify their dedication to this shared vision.
Future Directions
At the end of Summit, the young leaders departed with a strong sense of community, and a collective vision for a brighter future. This iteration of the Summit, along with the three previous editions, demonstrates the incredible potential of young people coming together with open hearts and minds. The event highlighted the potential to build on these achievements and further strengthen bonds between ASEAN and India. This has been observed since the countries presentation session. A delegate from Vietnam that delivered presentation about Vietnam showed her enthusiasm with this heart-warming expression, “Since we came here we have been greeted with nothing but love and support and this Summit has been amazing so far, it has brought ASEAN delegates together and we really appreciate your efforts thank you so we do hope you will enjoy the coffee [produced by Viet Nam] and we would like to welcome you to our beloved beautiful country one day.”
In addition, Fikri Al Hafidh, an Indonesian participant who does volunteer work with Persons with Disabilities, shared, “I met with a friend from India who worked at the International Cooperative Alliance, and we had a deep conversation regarding the inclusivity program and have a plan to reconnect again in the future. This was in line with meeting a fellow delegate from the Lao PDR who is also a sign language interpreter. With the people I met at the summit, we are planning to have a discussion regarding how we can connect deaf people in ASEAN and India despite the sign language barriers.
In his address during Valedictory Session, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh stated that ASEAN-India relations form the central pillar of India’s Act East Policy. He noted that both India and ASEAN shared a similar vision of the Indo-Pacific. Emphasising on the need for connectivity, he observed that connectivity in its broadest sense, whether physical or digital, was one of the most important aspects of India-ASEAN development. India and ASEAN have a robust digital relationship and are already working towards a shared digital transformation. The youth of both the countries are eager to contribute to the development of the entire region.
ASEAN and India are planning to organize the 5th ASEAN-India Youth Summit soon in 2024/2025 to sustain the momentum, ensuring continuous communication and collaboration among young leaders, paving the way for a better Indo-Pacific and the world in general, for everyone. With their energy, ideas, and dedication, these young leaders are truly poised to shape a brighter and more connected future.
