India keen on ASEAN playing key role in emerging Indo-Pacific: Jaishankar

India has said that it wants to see a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN playing a central role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific as it contributes to the country's prosperity and security as well.

Addressing foreign ministers of the ASEAN member states here in the Thai capital, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India's engagement with the 10-member regional grouping has been, and will remain, a critical element of the country's 'Act East' policy and strategy.

"Acting East is now also a means to implement our Indo-Pacific Outlook - that is its logical extrapolation," Jaishankar said on Thursday, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

He noted that for India, the ASEAN is a region of great importance. It is associated with a fundamental policy choice we made some decades ago.

The ASEAN comprise of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

"It is not just an important 'gateway' into and out of the Indian Ocean region but also one of the most economically and politically dynamic regions of the world today," Jaishankar said.

"We want to see a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN playing a central role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific as it contributes to India's prosperity and security as well," he said.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi enunciated at the Shangri La Dialogue in June 2018 of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, of which India is an important part.

"We warmly welcome ASEAN's decision to articulate its own views of the concept," the minister said.

"We see important elements of convergence, especially from the standpoint of principles and approach. This provides us a road-map to advance ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the areas of maritime cooperation, connectivity and achieving sustainable development goals.

Jaishankar's statement came amidst China's flexing its muscles in the Indo-Pacific, which is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the maritime area.

The ASEAN-led East Asia Summit format will remain India's preferred platform to further discussions on this subject.

"India seeks greater 'connected-ness' with the ASEAN region. We envision connectivity with the region in very broad terms, including physical, economic, political connectivity and close contact at the people-to-people level," he said.

The historic cultural, economic and political ties that have existed between India and the ASEAN region are the stepping stones to achieve the vision of a more connected India and ASEAN region and a closer partnership, the minister said.