Terrorism, Pharmaceuticals and Health, Human Resource Development

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Terrorism

  • ASEAN and India have signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism in October 2003 in Bali, and in the same year, India acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
  • About 0.34 million tourists come to India from ASEAN. From India, about 2 million go to ASEAN

Pharmaceuticals and Health

during the official level India-ASEAN Working Group (AIWG) Meeting in October 2008, a concept paper for cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sector was given to the ASEAN side. Similarly, an MOU submitted by Dep՚t. of AYUSH of India in the field of traditional medicine is also under consideration.

Human Resource Development

Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Cambodia, LAO PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar have been established. Centres for English Language Training (CELT) have been set-up in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam while one in Indonesia is under process.India has also offered a number of ITEC⟋ICCR fellowships and training in various sectors.

People to People Contact and Diaspora

  • The Tourism Ministers of ASEAN and India held their second meeting on 25th January 2010 and agreed to develop an India-ASEAN Tourism Agreement, Promotional chapter for tourism (APCT) and a familiarization trip from India to ASEAN
  • the media exchange programme entitled “ASEAN India Media Exchange Programme” was initiated to facilitate greater interaction and cooperation between ASEAN and India
  • Special Course for Diplomats from ASEAN Countries are conducted regularly at the Foreign Service Institute
  • Students from ASEAN visit India

Infrastructure

ASEAN Connectivity Initiative: to improve intra-ASEAN connectivity as well as with dialogue partners.

Aviation

Draft Air Services Agreement. Ultimately move towards open skies agreement.

ASEAN Regional Forum

  • Setup in 1993 as a regional security cooperation and dialogue platform
  • 27 member states
    • 10 ASEAN
    • 10 ASEAN Dialogue Partners
    • 7 other countries: Bangladesh, DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Sri Lanka
  • ARF process is three tiered
    • Track – 1
    • Track – 1.5
    • Track 2
  • There exists interaction among defence officials alongside diplomats
  • India became ARF member in 1996
  • Participation in ARF demonstrates our increasing engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, both in the politico-security and economic
  • Underlines our commitment to the objective of sustaining regional peace and stability
  • 18th ARF meeting was held in July 2011 in Bali
  • Has organised several seminars, workshops and training programmes for ARF members
  • Vision Statement for ARF for 2020 was adopted in 2009
  • Hanoi Plan of Action (POA) for implementation of the Vision Statement adopted in 2010
  • ARF has three stages
    • Promotion of confidence building
    • Development of preventive diplomacy
    • Elaboration of approaches to conflict

Table 2

Table Supporting: ASEAN Regional Forum
Steps Forward
Political interactions have further strengthened through Senior Official Meetings. President Patil՚s visit to Laos and Cambodia in 2010.
Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity for the years 2010 - 2015
extend visa on arrival facility to nationals of Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos with effect from 1st of January 2011.

Economic Relations

  • India already has an FTA with the block
  • Trade in services deal has been stuck over the issue of movement of professionals
  • India has been demanding greater opening in the Mode IV category so that more professionals get greater job opportunities in ASEAN
  • The ASEAN member countries have expressed their concern over allowing the movement of professionals and putting in place an easier visa regime.