Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 10-point plan to enhance India-ASEAN relations at the 2024 ASEAN-India Summit. The plan focuses on strengthening economic, cultural, and security ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
New Delhi: The 21st ASEAN-India Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, marked a significant moment in the long-standing partnership between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a comprehensive 10-point plan to elevate cooperation, economic growth, and strategic collaboration between India and ASEAN. His vision also highlighted the importance of peace, security, and resilience in the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting shared concerns about evolving global challenges.
This summit comes at a time when both India and ASEAN are eager to enhance their bilateral relations, particularly in light of geopolitical shifts and growing economic interdependence.
A Decade of India’s “Act East” Policy
Since the launch of India’s “Act East” policy in 2014, the country has actively pursued deeper engagements with Southeast Asia. This policy shifted from the earlier “Look East” approach by adding more concrete economic, political, and cultural initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with ASEAN nations. The ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2022, reflects the maturation of these relations, fostering dialogue and cooperation in various sectors.
At the 2024 summit, PM Modi emphasized that India and ASEAN collaboration is anchored in mutual respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and security. His speech underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as crucial tools for resolving conflicts and ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific.
PM Modi’s 10-Point Plan
During the summit, Modi revealed a 10-point agenda to further solidify the ASEAN-India partnership. The plan focuses on enhancing connectivity, trade, education, cultural exchanges, and resilience against climate change and natural disasters. The following are key elements of the plan:
- 2025 ASEAN-India Year of Tourism: To boost cultural exchange and tourism between India and ASEAN, PM Modi announced the allocation of $5 million for joint activities celebrating the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism. This initiative seeks to increase tourism, enhance people-to-people ties, and promote mutual understanding between the nations.
- Celebrating a Decade of the “Act East” Policy: India will host several people-centric events in 2024 and 2025 to celebrate a decade of its “Act East” policy. These include an ASEAN-India Youth Summit, a Start-up Festival, a Music Festival, and various activities under the ASEAN-India Think Tank Network. These events will encourage collaboration, innovation, and thought leadership across the regions.
- Promoting Women in Science: To advance gender equality in the field of science, PM Modi announced an ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave, supported by the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between Indian and ASEAN women scientists, promoting research and innovation in areas such as healthcare, technology, and climate science.
- Doubling Scholarships for ASEAN Students: Modi announced a doubling of scholarships available to ASEAN students at India’s Nalanda University, known for its historical significance and role in fostering academic diplomacy. Additional scholarships will also be offered to students from ASEAN at Indian agricultural universities, promoting knowledge exchange in key areas like sustainable farming and agricultural research.
- Revamping the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA): Both sides committed to completing a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) by 2025. This revised agreement is expected to remove trade barriers and open up new economic opportunities for businesses in India and ASEAN countries, enhancing two-way trade and investment.
- Strengthening Disaster Resilience: In response to the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the region, India will contribute $5 million toward ASEAN-India disaster resilience initiatives. This funding will be used to develop frameworks that enhance preparedness and response to natural calamities like floods, typhoons, and earthquakes, which frequently impact ASEAN countries.
Health Ministers’ Forum: A new ASEAN-India Health Ministers’ Forum will be established to improve public health cooperation and build resilience against future pandemics. Given the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative will focus on collaborative efforts in vaccine development, healthcare capacity-building, and strengthening health systems.
- Cybersecurity and Digital Cooperation: Recognizing the critical importance of digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in today’s world, PM Modi proposed a regular ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue. This dialogue will strengthen collaboration in digital infrastructure development and enhance resilience against cyber threats, ensuring secure digital integration across the region.
- Green Hydrogen Initiative: As part of efforts to promote sustainable energy, India will host a workshop on Green Hydrogen. The focus of this workshop will be on the development and deployment of clean energy technologies, highlighting the role of green hydrogen as a potential game-changer in the global energy landscape. Both India and ASEAN countries are committed to reducing carbon emissions and fostering a green energy transition.
- Climate Resilience through the “Plant a Tree for Mother” Campaign: Modi invited ASEAN nations to participate in India’s “Plant a Tree for Mother” campaign, aimed at combating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability. This initiative encourages the planting of trees as a means of improving ecological balance, building resilience against the effects of climate change, and fostering community engagement in environmental conservation.
Indo-Pacific Security and Maritime Cooperation
A crucial part of the ASEAN Summit discussions revolved around security in the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of maritime security, freedom of navigation, and adherence to international laws, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, which aligns with ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, stresses the need for collaborative maritime security measures, sustainable use of marine resources, and the preservation of the maritime environment. Modi’s emphasis on these issues reflects India’s growing role as a regional security provider and a proponent of peaceful conflict resolution, particularly in sensitive areas like the South China Sea.
Both India and ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea, advocating for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the region.
Digital Cooperation and Technological Collaboration
India and ASEAN have also committed to advancing digital public infrastructure, with a joint emphasis on fintech, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity. PM Modi highlighted India’s digital revolution, which has set a global example through innovations like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the Aadhaar biometric ID system. India is keen to share its expertise with ASEAN nations to enhance digital integration across the region.
The ASEAN Digital Master Plan (2026-2030) and the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) will guide future collaborations in this sector, with a focus on building inclusive, secure, and resilient digital ecosystems.
Bilateral Meetings and Expanding Partnerships
On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, further strengthening ties between the two major players in the Indo-Pacific. Their discussions focused on infrastructure development, defense cooperation, and cultural exchange, with a view to enhancing bilateral relations and collaborating on regional security issues.
PM Modi also met with the leaders of Laos, where he discussed expanding India’s assistance in areas such as disaster management and cultural heritage preservation. Notably, India has been involved in the restoration of the Vat Phou UNESCO World Heritage site in Laos and has extended support for flood relief efforts in the country.
Conclusion: Charting a New Path for India-ASEAN Relations
The 21st ASEAN-India Summit marked a new chapter in the growing strategic partnership between India and ASEAN. Modi’s 10-point plan not only emphasizes connectivity, digital cooperation, and disaster resilience but also seeks to elevate India’s role as a reliable partner in the region’s sustainable development.
As ASEAN and India continue to navigate a rapidly changing global order, their collaboration will be key to promoting stability, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. By focusing on shared goals, such as economic growth, climate action, and digital transformation, the India-ASEAN relationship is poised to contribute significantly to the future of the Asian century.
