ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit & The 17th East Asia Summit: 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations

Importance of ”ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit” & ”The 17th East Asia Summit” for UPSC CSE

• This year marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations and is being celebrated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year. So, the ”ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit” is very important from both the UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains perspective.
• Also, The East Asia Summit has played a significant role in the strategic and geopolitical evolution of East Asia. So, keeping an eye on the ”17th East Asia Summit” is important for UPSC CSE current affairs preparation.

Why ”ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit” & ”The 17th East Asia Summit” in News?

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will embark on a 3-day visit to Cambodia today to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 17th East Asia Summit.
• Cambodia is hosting these Summits as the current Chair of ASEAN.
• The Vice President will be accompanied by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

What is East Asia Summit?

• The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity.
• It has evolved as a forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on political, security and economic issues of common regional concern and plays an important role in the regional architecture.
• Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest level.
• The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.
• EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN.
• There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity. India endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

Significance of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit for India

• The year 2022 is called the ASEAN-India friendship year because it marks the 30th anniversary year of historical ASEAN-India Relations.
• ASEAN India strategic partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical, and cultural ties.
• ASEAN is central to India’s Act East policy and the wider vision of the Indo-Pacific.
• India and ASEAN have nearly 30 dialogue mechanisms that meet regularly.

Significance of the 17th East Asia Summit for India

• The East Asia Summit has played a significant role in the strategic and geopolitical evolution of East Asia.
• Apart from the ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, the US, and Russia.
• India, being the founding member of the East Asia Summit, remains committed to strengthening it and making it more effective to deal with contemporary challenges.
• At the Summit this year, leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen the East Asia Summit mechanism as well as matters of regional and international importance.

Q. Why the year 2022 is called the ASEAN-India friendship year?

Ans: The year 2022 is called the ASEAN-India friendship year because it marks the 30th anniversary year of historical ASEAN-India Relations.

Q. Which was the first foreign country VP Jagdip Dhankar visited after assuming office?

Ans: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar visited Cambodia in November 2022 to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 17th East Asia Summit.

Q. Which countries are called the founding father of ASEAN?

Ans: Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

ASEAN and INDIA

16th East Asia Summit (EAS) 2021

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