India Strengthens Ties with ASEAN, Announces Various Plans at ASEAN Summit 2024 in Lao PDR

In the 21st ASEAN India Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out a bold 10-point vision of India’s ASEAN connectivity that seeks to enhance cooperation between the two regions. Promoting the Chair’s theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, the plan has set more specific measures as to how cooperation across a range of fields might be further developed.

Tourism and Cultural Exchange at ASEAN Summit 2024

India will set up the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism 2025 and will commit $5 million for cooperation. This measure is intended to enhance the flow of people-to-people contact and cultural exchange between India and ASEAN countries. Also, the plan covers the Decade of Act East Policy by hosting a youth summit, startup festival, and music festival.

This focus also continues in the academic aspect of cultural diplomacy: India has not only doubled scholarships at Nalanda University but has also created new possibilities for ASEAN students in Indian agricultural universities. These educational programs will create room for the exchange of knowledge and the development of durable fellowship among youths across the globe.

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Economic & Technical Cooperation at ASEAN Summit 2024

One of the major economic issues of the plan is the pledge to examine the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025. Its purpose is to improve cooperation in the sphere of trade and minimize existing problems in the bilateral export-import processes. The plan also focuses on technological cooperation which is to hold ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave and workshop on Green Hydrogen.

In the same regard, to increase the capacity of disaster risk reduction in the region, India has committed USD 5 million. The plan adds a new Health minister’s track on health preparedness and response and creates an ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue to advance ASEAN-India cooperation on digital and cybersecurity.