ASEAN, India seek wider cooperation

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met here to explore areas of cooperation between India and the south-east Asian regional bloc, including in IT, trade, tourism, linguistics and tourism.
Swaraj and Minh also exchanged views on the ASEAN-2025 vision, which provides a roadmap that articulates the grouping's goals and aspirations for further consolidation, integration and stronger cohesiveness as a regional community.
The vision, which was simultaneously endorsed by leaders at their 27th Summit, charts the path for ASEAN community- building over the next 10 years.
Minh was yesterday awarded the distinguished foreign alumni of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) by Swaraj in the first such ceremony since the inception of the culture body.

During the meet, also discussed was the creation of 30 dialogue mechanisms, including one summit project-level fund.
Among other areas of cooperation, IT, English language in CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam), and an ASEAN study centre in Shillong, has also been planned, officials said.

The two leaders also exchanged ideas on establishing a manufacturing hub in CLMV, possible cooperation in tourism and air links in the regional bloc.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic organisation of 10 Southeast Asian countries formed in 1967.
Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam.

The aims of the bloc include accelerating economic growth, social progress, and socio-cultural evolution among its members, protecting regional peace and stability, and providing opportunities for member countries to resolve differences peacefully.