India-ASEAN Relations.

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Singapore foreign minister arrives today to engage with Modi govt - The Times of India

 

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Thailand wants to expand railway to link India, China

BANGKOK: Thailand's military junta has said that it wants to widen the country's railway tracks and expand the network to form transport links with important markets in India and China. The chief of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) General Prayuth Chan- ocha has said the NCPO's working plan includes initiatives to repair existing one-metre wide tracks and construct new 1.435 metre wide tracks in parallel. The new wider tracks will also be built on whichever routes are necessary to open up rail connections with China, India and other regional countries, he was quoted as saying by local media. "Today, talks (about transport links) have been held with neighbouring countries. They agree with and like our ideas," Prayuth said.
"We need wider rail tracks for the future. The present one-metre wide tracks were introduced in the King Rama V period," he said. Prayuth said the NCPO has approved a basic infrastructure strategy for the country. The country's transport network must link up with other Asean countries and beyond the region later, Bangkok Post quoted him as saying.
Thailand wants to expand railway to link India, China - The Times of India

 

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India to draft 5-year plan of action to deepen ties with ASEAN | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

 

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India for Greater Transport Connectivity with ASEAN: Sushma - The New Indian Express

 

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India-ASEAN FTA soon: Rajeev Kher

India on Wednesday said it has received the free trade agreements on services and investments with ASEAN and it will "shortly" sign the pact. Signing of the two pacts — FTA in services and investments — were scheduled during the India-ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting in Myanmar last week. But the meeting was postponed as Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was not able to attend the meet due to domestic compulsions. India and the 10-nation ASEAN had concluded the negotiations for FTA in services and investments in 2012. "Unfortunately because the Minister has compelling engagements here, she could not attend the Ministerial meeting last week but we now have received the agreements on Services and Investments and the Minister would shortly sign them," Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher said here at a function. India has proposed circulation process for signing the pact with ASEAN. Under the circulation process, each member will separately sign the agreement and it will become effective only after the last member signs the pact. In December last year, the Union Cabinet had approved the free trade agreement between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Unlike in India, ASEAN members have to approach their respective Parliaments for ratification of such pacts. The agreement, if implemented, will help boost movement of Indian professionals in the ASEAN region. It will also facilitate more investments in the services sector. Trade between India and South East nations' bloc ASEAN stood at about USD 76 billion in 2012-13. Both sides aim to increase it to USD 100 billion by 2015. The ASEAN members are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
India-ASEAN FTA soon: Rajeev Kher - The Hindu

 

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India signs free trade agreement in services, investments with ASEAN

NEW DELHI: India has signed the free trade agreement (FTA) in services and investments with 10-member ASEAN, paving the way for freer movement of professionals and further opening opportunities for investments. The country implemented FTA in goods with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2011. "India has formally signed the Trade in Services and Trade in Investments Agreement with ASEAN. The services agreement will open up opportunities of movement of both manpower and investments from either side between India and ASEAN," an official said. Nine out of 10 ASEAN countries have signed the pact, it said, adding that the Philippines is completing its domestic procedure and is expected to sign soon. Signing of the two pacts -- FTA in services and investments -- were scheduled during the India- ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting in Myanmar last month. But the meeting was postponed as Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was not able to attend the meet due to domestic compulsions. India had proposed circulation process for signing the pact with ASEAN. Under the circulation process, each member will separately sign the agreement and it will become effective only after the last member signs the pact. It said the trade in services agreement contains all features of a modern and comprehensive pact and is in line with the other bilateral agreements that India has signed so far. "Some of the important Articles contained in the agreement are ones on transparency, domestic regulations, recognition, market access, national treatment, increasing participation of developing countries, joint committee on services, review, dispute settlement and denial of benefits," the official said.
India signs free trade agreement in services, investments with ASEAN - The Economic Times

 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on November 12, 2014.

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a group photo with the Heads of State/ Government of 12th ASEAN-India Summit, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on November 12, 2014.

 

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'India-Asean trade to touch $100 bn by 2015' - The Hindu

 

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Pact to boost India-ASEAN trade to $200 billion by 2022 | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

 

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India underlines need for enhanced cooperation with ASEAN | Zee News

 

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India, Thailand agree to bolster defence cooperation: Ajit Doval - The Economic Times

 

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Arrives In Indonesia For Asian-African Conference


External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, today, arrived in Jakarta on five-day visit to attend the 60th commemoration of the historical 1955 Asian-African Conference and the 10th anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.

The conference which became the stepping stone for the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War-era is likely to adopt three declarations — Bandung message 2015: strengthening South-South Cooperation to promote world peace and prosperity, declaration on reinvigorating the new Asian African Strategic Partnership and declaration on Palestine.

Ms Swaraj is accompanied by senior diplomats from the Ministry and would participate in number of bilateral and multilateral discussions during the conference in which 53 countries including 22 Heads of State are participating.

The Minister is likely to hold bilateral meetings with the President of Vietnam, President and Vice-President of Indonesia, Prime Ministers of Nepal, Singapore, Rwanda, Palestine besides her counterparts from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Morocco, Tunisia and Timor-Leste.

The 1955 conference led by Indonesia's independence hero Sukarno brought together eminent leaders like Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser and India's Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whose famous 'Panchsheel' doctrine was incorporated in 10 principles of international peace and cooperation in declaration.

Ms Swaraj will also be part of historical walk in Bandung to mark the moment 60 years ago when leaders of 29 Asian and African countries walked together and joined hands in the First Asian African Conference.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not attend the conference because of ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament.

He had written to Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressing regrets for not being able to attend the meet. In the letter, the Prime Minister also invited Mr Widodo to visit India and said he was looking forward to visiting Indonesia at a mutually convenient time.

Asserting that he attaches extraordinary importance to the bilateral relations with Indonesia, Mr Modi had said there was much in our proximity, history, culture and now, the sheer democratic values and our roles as two major emerging Asian nations that impart great strategic importance to our partnership.

Noting that in these 60 years, Asia has seen unprecedented economic progress, rise of democracy and elimination of poverty, Mr Modi said yet it must still deal with unresolved questions and unsettled issues for enduring peace and prosperity in the region.

Read more: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Arrives In Indonesia For Asian-African Conference / Sputnik India English - News, Opinion, Radio

 

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NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy's indigenous offshore patrol vessel, INS Saryu, will participate in a week-long ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise (DiREx), an offiial statement said on Saturday. The vessel is commanded by Cdr Sreekumar Pillai and operates under the the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Co-hosted by Malaysia and China, the exercise will kick-off on Sunday in Malaysia and see the participation of Thailand, apart from India. The exercise is being conducted in Penang, northern Malaysia, from May 24 to 28. "The aim of the exercise is sharing of information and networking among national agencies of this region towards providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) during natural calamities like earthquakes and tsunami etc as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) for ships and aircraft lost at sea," the official statement added. According to the Indian Navy, there was a consensus in the ASEAN Regional Forum on the need to better mitigate, manage and respond to natural and man- made disasters in the region. "Disaster management continues to be a vital area for cooperation in the region," the statement said. The exercise will include field training drills in mass evacuation, managing chemical leakages and road accidents and conducting search and rescue operations. The marine component of the exercise would include search and rescue operations using a simulated maritime incident and deploying helicopters to locate survivors as well as diving operations to evacuate trapped personnel. This is the third edition of DiREx, with the previous two held in Philippines in 2009 and in Indonesia in 2011.


Indian Naval Vessel to Participate in ASEAN Exercise

 

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Indian Warship Arrives in Brunei for ASEAN's Maritime Drills

 

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India Indonesia coordinated Naval patrol till May 19

PANAJI: The Indonesian Navy and the Indian Navy have been participating in coordinated patrol (CORPAT) twice a year since 2002 to keep this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping and international trade.

The 27th series of India - Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) is being conducted from April 28 to May 19.

The Indonesian Navy is being represented by the ship KRI Imam Bonjol and maritime patrol aircraft CN 235 whilst INS Karmuk and a Naval Dornier aircraft will represent the Indian Navy.

A high level Indonesian delegation for the 27th CORPAT arrived at Port Blair on April 28. Later in the day, senior officers of the delegation led by First Admiral Muhammad Ali, called on vice admiral Bimal Verma AVSM at his office, wherein the two discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation.

Apart from securing the trade sea route, the coordinated patrol also serves to enhance mutual understanding and inter-operability between the two navies. The CORPAT thus reflects the shared concern between the two countries for a peaceful Indian ocean for the benefit of international community.

 

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Manohar Parrikar to take along defence industry delegation to Vietnam with aim to boost military relations

The industry delegation — representing most major Indian arms companies — will accompany defence minister Manohar Parrikar to Vietnam early next month.

NEW DELHI: Days after US President Barak Obama's visit to Vietnam , India is sending a high-level defence industry delegation to the strategically-located neighbour of China.

The industry delegation — representing most major Indian arms companies — will accompany defence minister Manohar Parrikar to Vietnam early next month.

The visit comes even as India is looking at increasing its military engagement with the nation to counter an increasing Chinese footprint in the Indian Ocean that is supported by the People's Liberation Army's naval base at Hainan island, located adjacent to Vietnam.

Officials have told et that the defence ministry is in the process of selecting the industry delegation that will look at joint development and production orders from Vietnam that already has a commonality of military platforms with India, most of them of Russian origin, including submarines and frigates.

India has identified Vietnam as a nation to which arms exports can be made freely, even for cutting-edge systems like warship destroying Brahmos missile. This comes as Chinese arms companies increase their presence in India's immediate neighbourhood, including sales of submarines to Pakistan and military systems to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. While the official delegation is being firmed up, it could include upwards of 15 private sector representatives, including executives from L&T, Tata and Reliance Defence, besides participation of public sector units like Brahmos. The final selection is to be made by Parrikar who will also be visiting Singapore for the Shangri La dialogue as part of his overseas tour.

Defence analysts say that there is a case for increased exports to Vietnam that would boost the Indian industry. "The MoD is finally using defence sales as an instrument of regional diplomacy with the proposed export of four naval patrol vessels from GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers) to Vietnam. The Brahmos could present itself as another viable export product. Such cases when approved will bolster the business cases under the Make in India campaign," Ankur Gupta of EY India told ET. India's defence exports remain minuscule but have shot up exponentially over the past two years.

This has been spurred by the policy changes that makes it easier to export military stores and equipment and doing away with a provision that demanded multiple assurances by foreign governments even for the sale of components and parts by Indian entities. India also has a defence export strategy that looks at diplomacy as a major tool for exports, including the granting of line of credit to friendly foreign nations for purchase of military equipment.

READ MORE:
Vietnam|US|regional|Pakistan|New Delhi|Manohar Parrikar|Indian Ocean

 

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Modi to host Singapore PM, will boost defence ties

NEW DELHI: India is looking to boost its Act East Policy even as southeast Asia struggles to cope with festering maritime disputes in the region. While defence minister Manohar Parrikar will look to expound on how India views the regional security situation at the Shangri La Dialogue later this week, PM Narendra Modi is also hoping to host his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in September this year.

Top government sources here said India was in touch with Singapore to finalise dates for PM Lee's visit. The 2 countries had signed a strategic partnership agreement last year when Modi visited Singapore.

The Modi government is looking to encourage more investment from Singapore for development of urban centres in India. While Singapore remains government's most important partner for sustainable smart city development and other urban solutions, India is also looking to enhance its defence engagement with Singapore. As part of their revised defence cooperation agreement, the 2 countries are now looking to jointly develop and produce defence technologies.

While Singapore is not party to the maritime disputes in South China Sea, it shares concerns with India over the deteriorating security situation in the region. Both countries insist on freedom of navigation, safety of sea lanes and resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Parrikar too will have a bilateral meeting with his Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen later this week. He is also scheduled to travel from Singapore to Vietnam, which is directly impacted by China's outlandish cow's tongue (nine-dash line) claims in South China Sea waters.

The highlight of Parrikar's tour though will be his presence at the Shangri La Dialogue or the 15th Asia Security Summit. As TOI had first reported on May 7, breaking away from the practice in recent past, India on this occasion decided to send its defence minister to what is perhaps the most powerful forum for discussions on security issues in the Asia-Pacific.

US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter used the forum last year to announce a Southeast Asia Maritime Security initiative for the region. He also declared that the US was looking for new ways to complement India's Act East policy and to find meaningful areas of cooperation in the Asia Pacific. Carter will again be leading the US delegation this year in Singapore.

Parrikar is expected to strongly address the regional security situation and in particular India's concerns over the conflict in South China Sea at a time concerns are mounting over an impending international tribunal ruling on the Philippines' suit challenging China's maritime claims. Beijing has already announced it will ignore the ruling.

Under Modi, India has repeatedly brought up the South China Sea issue in joint documents, mentioning the significance of freedom of navigation and overflight and also the need to resolve maritime disputes through international law. At a RIC (Russia-India-China) foreign ministers' meeting though, India agreed to a joint statement saying maritime disputes be addressed through negotiations and agreements between the parties concerned. Indian officials though have dismissed it saying it should be seen from a multilateral (RIC) perspective and that India will continue to work with its strategic partners like US and other nations for security and stability in Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean.

 

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Singapore, India renew air force exercise agreement
Singapore has renewed the bilateral agreement for the conduct of Joint Military Training and Exercises with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
The ministry said the renewed bilateral air force agreement allows the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to continue its joint military training at Kalaikunda Air Force Station in India for another five years, Xinhua news agency reported.
Under the agreement, the RSAF will have opportunities to train with the IAF's advanced Su-30 fighter jet.

 

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By Vietnam Plus
Vietnam, India hold defence policy dialogue
Illustrative image (Source: Internet)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and India held their 10th defence policy dialogue at deputy ministerial level in Hanoi on March 1, focusing on the implementation of the agreement reached between the two countries during the visit to India by Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich last year.

The Vietnamese delegation to the dialogue was led by Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh, while the Indian delegation was headed by Secretary of the Indian Defence Ministry Mohan Kumar.

The two sides also reviewed the bilateral defence partnership since the 9th dialogue in 2015, and mapped out orientations for closer defence cooperation between the two countries in the time ahead.

The sides took the occasion to share their viewpoints on the security situation I the region and the world as well as international issues of common concern, aiming to enhance mutual trust and understanding.

Earlier the same day, Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich hosted a reception for the visiting Indian delegation.
Minister Lich highlighted the importance of Vietnam-India defence cooperation, affirming that it remains as a key pillar in the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

He suggested the two sides strengthen the defence ties in the coming time, through promoting exchanges and experience sharing, and international cooperation in the field.

During its stay from February 27 – March 2, the Indian delegation paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and visited the Air Force Regiment 921 of the Air Defence-Air Force Service's Division 371.-VNA
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-india-hold-defence-policy-dialogue/108026.vnp#

 

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Vietnam for greater Indian role in SE Asia
JULY 04, 2017 21:53 IST

Opening new possibilities in Southeast Asia, Vietnam on Tuesday asked India to play a greater role in ASEAN’s strategic and security affairs. Speaking at the Delhi Dialogue IX, a platform for discussion between ASEAN and India, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said that India should support freedom of navigation in the South China Sea on the basis of international law and conventions.

“ASEAN supports India to play a greater role in the political and security domain, and create a regional rule-based region. We hope India will continue to partner our efforts for strategic security and freedom of navigation in South China Sea on the basis of international law and legal convention,” said the visiting leader.

The Vietnamese leader who is on a two-day visit to Delhi, is also the Foreign Minister of his country and held talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. His comments in support of greater role for India in Southeast Asia came even as tension is building up between India and China across the Sikkim sector.

“India and Vietnam share political and economic interests. As the future unfolds we have reason to be optimistic. ASEAN will benefit from India’s experience of resolving maritime issues in a peaceful manner,” he said indicating at the dispute with China in the South China Sea region.
In her speech, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that ties with ASEAN is at the centre of India’s Act East Policy. “We place ASEAN at heart of our ‘Act East Policy’ and centre of our dream of an Asian century. ASEAN and India are natural partners,” Ms. Swaraj said.

Pham Binh Minh’s comments are also important as they come a day after senior BJP leader Ram Madhav hinted at China’s growing domination of Southeast Asia and asked Vietnam to partner India in resisting “21st century version of neo-colonialism.” Addressing a conference on India-Vietnam ties organised at the Teen Murty Bhavan, Mr Madhav said, “It is important for us to make sure that the 21st century version of the same colonialism does not return to haunt us and succeed. Geopolitics in the Indian Ocean region makes the possibility of neo-colonialism a reality with countries trying to dominate others through money, market and through military,” he said.

Besides the Indian and Vietnamese ministers, the ministerial session was participated by Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs; Mr. U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister, Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor, Myanmar and Mr. Hirubalan V P, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community Department, ASEAN Secretariat.

The Delhi Dialogue IX marks the beginning of the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN diplomatic ties. The Vietnamese leader also indicated that a special India-ASEAN summit will be held in 2018.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...y-role-in-south-china-sea/article19210720.ece