Intervention of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the 21st ASEAN-India Summit
His Excellency Narendra Modi,
Fellow ASEAN Leaders,
We are honored to be the ASEAN Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations for 2024 to 2026.
In this capacity, allow me to highlight some points enunciated in the ASEAN Common Statement:
ASEAN-India relations continue to be vibrant and we are pleased with the complete implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA 2021-2025), a year in advance.
ASEAN also welcomes the implementation of the ASEAN-India Statements including on Maritime Cooperation and Food Security.
On maritime security, we welcome the holding of the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in May 2023, a reflection of India’s contribution to promoting maritime security and safety.
ASEAN appreciates India’s active role in the ASEAN mechanisms, including Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) through the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs).
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
It has been ten years since India adopted the Act East Policy. The Policy highlighted India’s role as an integral part of the political, economic, and socio-cultural life, as well as heritage, of the Indo Pacific. More than that, however, the Policy has also reflected India’s recognition of the value and potential of Southeast Asia, by situating ASEAN at the very heart of its utmost priorities.
Indeed, the Policy has contributed to advancing ASEAN-India relations and mutual development through substantial collaboration in areas of security, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.
To celebrate this milestone, today, we adopt the Joint Statement on Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region in the context of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with the Support of India’s Act East Policy (AEP), reflecting our continuing aspiration and commitment to better prospects for our region.
ASEAN looks forward to future cooperation with India in the digital realm through the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation, which we will also adopt today.
At this point, allow me to deliver the Philippine National Statement:
The Philippines hopes to continue our
time-proven partnership with India in promoting maritime security in our region. We also welcome initiatives focused on marine environmental protection, promoting coastal and marine biodiversity.
On Trade, the Philippines remains supportive of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make the Agreement more user-friendly, simple, and trade facilitative for businesses, including for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). We hope that the review of the AITIGA will effectively lessen restrictions to trade and that India will continue to support its agreed provisions.
In recognition that the youth plays in developing a resilient and long-term symbiotic relationship among our countries, we are pleased with the positive outcomes of the ASEAN-India Youth Summit in 2023.
We encourage India to explore promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in ASEAN through sharing of knowledge on establishing industry-academia partnerships to enhance enterprise-based training schemes.
On health cooperation, we thank India’s continued support for Traditional and Complementary Medicine, as well as its sharing of expertise on Cancer Management and Research and Development.
We also invite India to share its strengths as the world’s pharmaceutical hub and its offer to share expertise in providing affordable and quality medicines, including vaccine production and distribution within the region, and support the initiative on ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance.
As a vital part of our economic post-pandemic recovery, we also look forward to cooperation on tourism and to 2025 as the ASEAN-India
Year of Tourism.
Once again, the Philippines is honored to play a positive role in promoting ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. We are confident that
our shared values, which are the basis of our 75 years of vibrant bilateral relations will benefit ASEAN-India relations for the betterment of our region and our peoples.
Thank you.
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