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24 January 2018, Gateway House

Cementing 25 years of India-ASEAN relations

Prime Minister Modi's Act East policy is taking visible shape as leaders of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) take their place as chief guests at India's 2018 Republic Day celebrations. This is unprecedented as New Delhi’s January 26 celebration has never had this large a number of chief guests. The year 2017 marked 50 years of ASEAN’s creation, and also 25 years of India-ASEAN relations.

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Prime Minister Modi’s Act East policy is taking visible shape as leaders of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) take their place as  chief guests at India’s 2018 Republic Day celebrations. This is unprecedented as New Delhi’s January 26 celebration has never had this large a number of chief guests. The year 2017 marked 50 years of ASEAN’s creation, and also 25 years of India-ASEAN relations. This year’s choice of chief guests displays the strategic importance of this region to India’s foreign policy and its aim to strengthen relations with the South East Asian countries. In three and a half years, the Indian leadership has already visited all 10 of  the ASEAN countries, and through these engagements, signified, the increasing role it envisages India and the ASEAN to have in the Indo-Pacific region.

Gateway House has curated a selection of the analysis of its top expert on India’s relations with the ASEAN member countries, in this special briefing.

MANILA, Nov. 14, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Participants pose for group photos during the 15th ASEAN-India Summit in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 14, 2017. The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/IANS)

India-ASEAN: salute to a commemorative summit
By Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House

This is a partnership that has been based on mutuality, economic cooperation and undisputed political closeness ever since ASEAN’s inception. Now, the path into the future has to be different: creating a new security architecture and determining ASEAN’s role in the Quad are overarching questions that cannot be wished away. Read more

All that makes ASEAN unique @ 50
By Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House

This regional grouping of 10 nations, which observes its golden jubilee year in 2017, has come a long way from the Cold War era when it was founded, making a significant contribution to peace, security and prosperity. Now, its future prospects and “centrality” look uncertain amidst the region’s changing geopolitics. Read more

India, Vietnam tied by strategic trust
By Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House

Vietnam has the highest level of bilateral relationship—or ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’—with three countries: China, Russia and India. It envisages a much more active role in the region for India, but many factors mar such a development currently. Read more

India-Malaysia partnership in the pink
By Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House

India views its ties with Malaysia as a core element of its Act East Policy, while the Malaysian leadership has taken note of India’s geopolitical importance and the many attractions of its market Both nations share a strong commitment to multiculturalism, democracy and inclusive development. Read more

India-Indonesia: matching word with deed
By Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House

The optimal potential of the India-Indonesia relationship remains untapped. The Eminent Persons’ Group has advised the two governments to elevate the existing relationship to a “New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. Will practice follow precept? Read more

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