PM to visit Laos for ASEAN-India summit

Context:

The prime Minister of India will visit Laos on October 10-11 to attend the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summits that are being hosted by Laos.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
2. East Asia Summit (EAS)
3. India and its Role in the East Asia Summit (EAS)

About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising Ten Countries in Southeast Asia.

Members of ASEAN

1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
6. Brunei
7. Vietnam
8. Laos
9. Myanmar
10. Cambodia

ASEAN’s Objectives:

1. To promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.
2. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations.
3. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
4. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations.

A major partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN maintains a global network of alliances and dialogue partners and is considered by many as the central union for cooperation in Asia-Pacific.

• The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
• ASEAN is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 8th August is observed as ASEAN Day.
• In 1967 ASEAN was established with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding fathers: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.
• ASEAN is the 3rd largest market in the world – larger than EU and North American markets.

ASEAN Plus Three

ASEAN Plus Three is a forum that functions as a coordinator of co-operation between the ASEAN and the three East Asian nations of China, South Korea, and Japan.

ASEAN Plus Six

• further integration to improve existing ties of Southeast Asia was done by the larger East Asia Summit (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus Three as well as India, Australia, and New Zealand.
• The group became ASEAN Plus Six with Australia, New Zealand, and India, and stands as the linchpin of Asia Pacific’s economic, political, security, socio-cultural architecture, as well as the global economy.
• This group acted as a prerequisite for the planned East Asia Community which was supposedly patterned after the European Community (now transformed into the European Union).

ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

• The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement was signed and entered into force in 2010.
• Under the Agreement, ASEAN Member States and India have agreed to open their respective markets by progressively reducing and eliminating duties on more than 75% coverage of goods.

ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement (AITISA)

• The ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement was signed in 2014.
• It contains provisions on transparency, domestic regulations, recognition, market access, national treatment and dispute settlement.

ASEAN-India Investment Agreement (AIIA)

• The ASEAN-India Investment Agreement was signed in 2014.
• The Investment Agreement stipulates protection of investment to ensure fair and equitable treatment for investors, non-discriminatory treatment in expropriation or nationalisation as well as fair compensation.

ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA)

• The ASEAN–India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) is a free trade area among the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India.
• The free trade area came into effect in 2010.
• The ASEAN–India Free Area emerged from a mutual interest of both parties to expand their economic ties in the Asia-Pacific region.
• India’s Look East policy was reciprocated by similar interests of many ASEAN countries to expand their interactions westward.
• The signing of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement paves the way for the creation of one of the world’s largest FTAs – a market of almost 1.8 billion people with a combined GDP of US $ 2.8 trillion.
• The AIFTA will see tariff liberalisation of over 90% of products traded between the two dynamic regions, including the so-called “special products,” such as palm oil (crude and refined), coffee, black tea and pepper.

East Asia Summit (EAS)

• The East Asia Summit (EAS) was established in 2005 as an initiative led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• It serves as a leader-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together key partners to address strategic political, security, and economic issues.

Principles and Values:

• The EAS operates based on the principles of openness, inclusiveness, respect for international law, and the centrality of ASEAN as the driving force behind the forum.

Proposal and First Summit:

• The idea of an East Asia Grouping was first proposed by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1991.
• The first EAS summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 14 December 2005.

Membership:

• The EAS comprises 18 members, including the 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partners.
• ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.

Summit Timing and Supportive Meetings:

• The EAS is typically held alongside ASEAN Leaders’ meetings in the fourth quarter of each year.
• It is supported by various ministerial and senior officials’ meetings, addressing various sectors like foreign affairs, economy, defense, and education.

Priority Areas of Cooperation:

• The EAS focuses on six priority areas of cooperation: environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disaster management, and ASEAN connectivity.

Broad Range of Topics:

• In addition to the priority areas, the EAS also covers other topics of common interest and concern, such as trade and investment, regional architecture, maritime security, non-proliferation, counterterrorism, and cyber security.

India and its Role in the East Asia Summit (EAS)

Founding Member and Active Participant:

• India has been a founding member of the East Asia Summit since its establishment in 2005.
• It has consistently participated in all EAS meetings and activities, showcasing its commitment to regional cooperation.

Enhancing Act East Policy:

• India sees the EAS as a crucial platform to strengthen its Act East Policy, which aims to deepen engagement and foster stronger ties with East and Southeast Asian nations.
• Through the EAS, India seeks to enhance economic, political, and strategic partnerships with ASEAN and other countries in the region.

Unveiling Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI):

• During the EAS in Bangkok in November 2019, India unveiled the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• The IPOI is a strategic initiative aimed at forging partnerships to create a secure and stable maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region.

Contributions to EAS Cooperation:

• India actively contributes to various fields of cooperation within the EAS framework.
• Its contributions encompass areas like disaster management, renewable energy, education, health, connectivity, maritime security, and counterterrorism.

-Source: The Hindu, The Indian Express