A seminar themed “ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm” took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 24, drawing delegates from all 10 ASEAN nations and their partner countries.
Jakarta (VNA) – A seminar themed “ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm” took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 24, drawing delegates from all 10 ASEAN nations and their partner countries, namely Russia, the USಌ, Australia, and New Zealand.
Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to ASEAN Suresh K. Reddy said that India has cooperated strongly with ASEAN countries in the fields of economics, trade and infrastructure. It has poured capital in building 152,000km of expressways, and has invested 140 billion USD in building railways over the next 5 years in ASEAN.
Intensifying relations with ASEAN is the focus of India’s “Look East” policy, promulgated in 1991 and currently known as the “Act East” policy.
The two sides’ upgrading of their comprehensive dialogue partnership to a strategic partnership and their approval of a Vision Statement in 2012 marked an important road map to development, towards a sustainable relationship for peace and prosperity, he added.
Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam, head of the Vietnam delegation to ASEAN, pledged that with its role as a coordinator for ASEAN-India relations, Vietnam will coordinate with other ASEAN nations and India to seek new measures to further develop ASEAN-India ties.
At the seminar, delegates discussed challenges, opportunities, and the cooperation potential of the current ASEAN-India relations.
They also suggested ways to ensure close connectivity among governments and intensify exchanges among people and businesses.
ASEAN is now India’s fourth largest trade partner with an average annual growth of 22 percent in the past 10 years. Two-way trade reached 76.52 USD billion last year.-VNA
The eighth Delhi Dialogue themed “ASEAN – India Relations: A New Paradigm” opened in New Delhi city, India, on February 17 to discuss bilateral political-security, economic and socio-cultural engageme
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The seminar scene (Source: VNA)
