ASEAN Summit: Enhancing Regional Ties and Connectivity

The recently concluded 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos (October 8-11) brought together leaders from ASEAN countries and partners, emphasizing resilience and connectivity across key areas. With nearly 90 documents adopted, the summits focused on strengthening ASEAN’s role in the Indo-Pacific, addressing supply chain connectivity, sustainable agriculture, and climate change. New cooperation fields like digital economy and green transition were also highlighted.

Key ASEAN Summit Outcomes

The adoption of the ASEAN Vision Statement on the Indo-Pacific underscored ASEAN’s central role in regional security and cooperation. Declarations focused on enhancing supply chain resilience, biodiversity, and climate action. Vietnam’s delegation, led by PM Chinh, played a proactive role in promoting strategic connectivity and resilience for ASEAN’s future development phase.

Vietnam’s Bilateral Engagements

Vietnam, in meetings with leaders from Laos and Cambodia, stressed cooperation in trade, transport, food security, and human resources. The emphasis on new fields, such as digital transformation, AI, and green energy, marks Vietnam’s role in ASEAN’s evolving dynamics, reinforcing trilateral cooperation to meet the region’s needs.

ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2024

Marking 50 years of ASEAN-Australia relations, Australia announced over $500 million in initiatives, including a $2 billion investment facility and an infrastructure partnership. New programs, such as Landing Pads for tech startups and scholarships, deepen socio-cultural and economic ties, while climate cooperation and maritime capacity-building initiatives solidify long-term partnerships.

Key Highlights of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit

PM Modi’s Address: Focus on ASEAN Unity and Economic Growth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s strong support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized that the 21st century is the “Asian century” and stressed the importance of India-ASEAN relations in shaping Asia’s future. Key achievements in the last decade include the doubling of India-ASEAN trade to over USD 130 billion, direct flight connectivity with seven ASEAN nations, collaboration in fintech, and the restoration of shared cultural heritage. PM Modi also called for a timely review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) to unlock further economic potential.

10-Point Plan for Enhanced Connectivity and Resilience
PM Modi unveiled a 10-point plan aligned with the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” which includes:

• Celebrating 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism with USD 5 million for joint activities
• Marking a decade of the Act East Policy with initiatives like Youth Summits and Start-up Festivals
• Organizing the ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave
• Doubling scholarships at Nalanda University and adding new ones in agricultural universities
• Reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) by 2025
• Allocating USD 5 million to enhance disaster resilience
• Initiating a Health Ministers’ track for building health resilience
• Establishing an ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue
• Hosting a workshop on Green Hydrogen
• Launching the ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign to promote climate resilience

Future Plan of Action (2026-2030)

Leaders agreed to develop a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) to further their partnership. Two joint statements were adopted:

1. Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
2. Advancing Digital Transformation, recognizing India’s contribution to digital public infrastructure.

Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation: Key Highlights

• Strengthening ASEAN-India Partnership: Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on digital transformation and inclusive growth.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): India’s contributions to the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and Centers of Excellence in Software Development were recognized.
• FinTech Collaboration: The partnership will expand fintech innovations, including cross-border payment systems and digital financial solutions.
• Cybersecurity Cooperation: The establishment of the ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue was supported to enhance the resilience of digital infrastructure.
• AI Collaboration: Both parties called for collaboration on AI to develop skills, infrastructure, and responsible policies, emphasizing workforce upskilling and trustworthy AI systems.
• Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: Regular exchanges, workshops, and training programs will support digital transformation efforts under the ASEAN-India Digital Ministers’ Meeting.

• Sustainable Financing and Investment: Innovative financing mechanisms like public-private partnerships will be explored, with the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future supporting digital initiatives.