Senior officials review ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
| 2025-03-15
The 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) convened in Manila on March 12, 2025.
The meeting also discussed the early completion of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement.
The 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) convened in Manila last week, reaffirming the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and ASEAN. The meeting, co-chaired by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India, and Undersecretary Ma Theresa P. Lazaro of the Philippines, brought together senior officials from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste (Observer), and the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General to assess the progress of key agreements and collaborative initiatives.
Philippines is the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.
Key Highlights of the Meeting
The 27th AISOM held on March 12, 2025, focused on multiple areas of cooperation, reinforcing India's commitment to ASEAN under the Act East Policy and its broader Indo-Pacific vision. The following were the key takeaways from the discussions:
- Review of Key Agreements: Officials reviewed the implementation of decisions made during the ASEAN-India Summit and ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (PMC+1). The discussions covered three crucial areas—political-security, economic, and socio-cultural engagement.
- 10-Point Proposal Implementation: Progress was noted on India’s 10-Point Proposal, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit (2024, Lao PDR). The proposal aims to enhance regional connectivity, economic integration, security cooperation, and cultural exchanges. It included the designation of 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.
- Economic and Trade Cooperation: The meeting focused on the early completion of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to enhance trade efficiency. The proposed amendments aim to reduce tariffs, remove trade barriers, and promote cross-border investments between India and ASEAN countries.
- The officials also discussed steps to strengthen digital and maritime connectivity; health and innovation collaborations; security and strategic cooperation.
Additionally, officials from both sides took stock of preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit and ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which will take place in Malaysia later in 2025.
On the sidelines of the AISOM, Secretary Mazumdar met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique A. Manalo to discuss strengthening bilateral relations in trade, security, and innovation.
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