ID :
199223
Fri, 08/05/2011 - 04:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/199223
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ASEAN-INDIA EMINENT PERSONS DISCUSS FUTURE RELATIONS
By Ahmad Fuad Yahya
JAKARTA (Bernama) - Eminent persons from the 10 Asean member countries and India have identified areas for cooperation and challenges, which both sides will have to address, as they strive to forge an enhanced partnership.
The leaders who met in Phnom Penh to take stock of Asean-India relations over the past 19 years, also explored ways to widen and deepen existing cooperation, the Asean Secretariat said in a statement here.
"Our vision is to recreate, in a contemporary setting, the myriad linkages that bound our countries together in the past and unleash a creative surge, which adds even greater momentum to the Asian resurgence," Eminent Person of India and Co-Chair of the Asean-India Eminent Persons Group (AIEPG) Shyam Saran said.
Asean-India dialogue relations grew rapidly from a sectoral Dialogue Partnership in 1992 to a full Dialogue Partnership in December 1995.
The relationship was further enhanced with the convening of the Asean-India Summit in 2002.
Both sides signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation in 2003, and subsequently the Agreement on Trade in Goods in 2009.
The Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement, which entered into force on Jan 1 last year, paved the way for the creation of one of the world’s largest free trade areas (FTAs) in terms of population, with a market of almost 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP of US$3.3 trillion.
Asean Co-Chair and Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Kao Kim Hourn said the work of the AIEPG was to come up with a solid and forward-looking report to further raise their partnership to a higher level.
Dr Kao, who is also the Eminent Person of Cambodia, said they also hoped to raise the profile of Asean-India Partnership and to ensure India’s continuing support of Asean centrality, community and connectivity.
The members of the AIEPG consist of distinguished individuals who have valuable knowledge and vast experience in Asean-India dialogue relations.
Deputy Secretary-General of Asean for the Asean Economic Community, S. Pushpanathan, who participated in the meeting, welcomed the frank discussion and lively exchange of bold ideas and constructive inputs at the meeting.
"The first meeting augurs well for Asean and India as I am confident that the eminent persons will produce a high quality report that will have a significant impact on the Dialogue Partnership," he said.
The AIEPG was tasked, among others, to propose strategies for the effective implementation of the Asean-India Plan of Action to implement the Comprehensive Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2010-2015).
The AIEPG report is expected to be completed next year and submitted to the Asean-India Heads of Government in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the Asean-India Dialogue Partnership.
JAKARTA (Bernama) - Eminent persons from the 10 Asean member countries and India have identified areas for cooperation and challenges, which both sides will have to address, as they strive to forge an enhanced partnership.
The leaders who met in Phnom Penh to take stock of Asean-India relations over the past 19 years, also explored ways to widen and deepen existing cooperation, the Asean Secretariat said in a statement here.
"Our vision is to recreate, in a contemporary setting, the myriad linkages that bound our countries together in the past and unleash a creative surge, which adds even greater momentum to the Asian resurgence," Eminent Person of India and Co-Chair of the Asean-India Eminent Persons Group (AIEPG) Shyam Saran said.
Asean-India dialogue relations grew rapidly from a sectoral Dialogue Partnership in 1992 to a full Dialogue Partnership in December 1995.
The relationship was further enhanced with the convening of the Asean-India Summit in 2002.
Both sides signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation in 2003, and subsequently the Agreement on Trade in Goods in 2009.
The Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement, which entered into force on Jan 1 last year, paved the way for the creation of one of the world’s largest free trade areas (FTAs) in terms of population, with a market of almost 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP of US$3.3 trillion.
Asean Co-Chair and Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Kao Kim Hourn said the work of the AIEPG was to come up with a solid and forward-looking report to further raise their partnership to a higher level.
Dr Kao, who is also the Eminent Person of Cambodia, said they also hoped to raise the profile of Asean-India Partnership and to ensure India’s continuing support of Asean centrality, community and connectivity.
The members of the AIEPG consist of distinguished individuals who have valuable knowledge and vast experience in Asean-India dialogue relations.
Deputy Secretary-General of Asean for the Asean Economic Community, S. Pushpanathan, who participated in the meeting, welcomed the frank discussion and lively exchange of bold ideas and constructive inputs at the meeting.
"The first meeting augurs well for Asean and India as I am confident that the eminent persons will produce a high quality report that will have a significant impact on the Dialogue Partnership," he said.
The AIEPG was tasked, among others, to propose strategies for the effective implementation of the Asean-India Plan of Action to implement the Comprehensive Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2010-2015).
The AIEPG report is expected to be completed next year and submitted to the Asean-India Heads of Government in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the Asean-India Dialogue Partnership.
