India to host ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional Medicines

India will serve as the host for the ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional Medicines on July 20, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. A total of 75 participants will convene at this one-day conference which will include international delegates from eight ASEAN countries, with an additional two international delegates participating virtually. The purpose of the conference is to facilitate brainstorming sessions and idea sharing on the topic of Traditional Medicines.

India-ASEAN Conference on Traditional Medicines: Strengthening Collaboration and Sharing Best Practices

With support from the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Mission to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat, the Ministry of Ayush is prepared to host the Conference on Traditional Medicines for ASEAN Countries on July 20, 2023.
The objective of this conference is to enhance collaboration between India and ASEAN countries by sharing best practices and establishing a roadmap for future cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicines.It will also provide a platform to exchange information on the recent developments in the regulatory framework for promoting Traditional Medicine in ASEAN member states.
This initiative aligns with the ‘Act East Policy‘ outlined by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the 12th ASEAN India Summit in Myanmar in November 2014, injecting fresh momentum into the strategic partnership. This conference marks the resumption of India ASEAN collaboration on Traditional Medicine after an interval of almost a decade.

Act East Policy

The Act East Policy was launched by Prime Minister Modi during the 12th ASEAN-India Summit held in Myanmar. This policy represents a strategic shift aimed at fostering economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the expansive Asia-Pacific region.
Its primary objective is to bolster the economic development of the Northeastern Region (NER) while promoting economic cooperation, cultural ties, and strategic partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries.
The Act East Policy is characterized by the 4C’s, namely Commerce, Connectivity, Capacity Building, and Culture. Additionally, security is a crucial dimension of this policy, given the increasing assertiveness of China in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN)

On August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came into existence through the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). Comprising ten Southeast Asian nations, ASEAN is an intergovernmental organization consisting of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
According to the ASEAN Declaration, the Association aims to achieve two primary objectives: To accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development within the region, and to promote regional peace and stability by upholding justice, the rule of law, and the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter among member countries.

About Ministry of Ayush

On November 9, 2014, the Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) was established with the objective of revitalizing the profound knowledge of ancient medicinal systems and ensuring the optimal growth and promotion of Ayush healthcare systems.
Previously, the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) had the responsibility for the development of these systems since its establishment in 1995. In November 2003, it was rebranded as the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (Ayush), with a specific emphasis on education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.