Why in news?  Prime Minister’s participated in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta

Highlights:

• It is a biannual meeting held by the members of ASEAN in relation to economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries.
• The 1st ASEAN Summit was held in February 1976 in Bali, Indonesia.
• ASEAN Summit is the supreme policy-making body of ASEAN and comprises the heads of state or government of each member state
• The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area was established at the 14th ASEAN Summit in 2009.
• The ASEAN league conducts annual meetings with other countries in an organisation collectively known as the ASEAN dialogue partners.
• ASEAN +3 adds China, Japan, and South Korea.

Key Highlights of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit

• Advancing the establishment of a multi-modal connectivity and economic corridor that links South-East Asia, India, West Asia, and Europe.
• Extending an invitation to ASEAN partners to benefit from India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Stack, thus fostering digital cooperation.
• Introducing an ASEAN-India fund for Digital Future, with a primary focus on promoting cooperation in digital transformation and financial connectivity.
• Pledging continued support to the Economic and Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) as a knowledge partner, enhancing our collaborative engagement.
• Advocating for a collective approach in raising pertinent issues faced by the Global South within multilateral forums.
• Extending an invitation to ASEAN countries to participate in the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, an initiative by the WHO to be established in India.
• Proposing collaborative efforts on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment), emphasizing environmental sustainability.
• Offering to share India’s expertise in delivering affordable and high-quality medicines to the public through Jan-Aushadhi Kendras.
• Stressing the importance of collective action against terrorism, terror financing, and cyber-disinformation.
• Inviting ASEAN countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and promoting cooperation in disaster management.
• Calling for strengthened collaboration in the realms of maritime safety, security, and domain awareness.

About ASEAN

• Intergovernmental organization
• Founded – 1967
• Secretariat – Jakarta, Indonesia
• Motto – “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
• Membership – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam