External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of India participated in comprehensive talks with his Southeast Asian counterparts, aimed at advancing cooperation in fintech, food security, and maritime sectors, during an ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in the Indonesian capital.
Jaishankar, in attendance to foster regional relationships and collaboration, held discussions with Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, of Indian origin. They jointly acknowledged the progress made in implementing the strategic partnership between their countries, covering areas such as digital technology, food security, and maritime industries, and additionally, exchanged views on the ongoing situation in Myanmar.
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in mass protests calling for the reinstatement of democracy, with the military using airpower to quell resistance.
On the sidelines of the ministerial event, Jaishankar conducted bilateral talks with Brunei’s Foreign Minister, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof. They centred their discussions on enhancing trade, food security, and cooperative endeavours in space and mobility sectors.
The minister also had extensive conversations with other international counterparts, including Britain’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, and New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
During his stay in Indonesia, Jaishankar will engage in further dialogues under the ASEAN framework – including the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. Post Jakarta, he will head to Bangkok for the 12th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism, an initiative focusing on strengthening connections between India, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In another development, Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional Medicines is set to take place on July 20 in New Delhi. This gathering, supported by the AYUSH and External Affairs ministries, aims to promote research sharing and traditional medicine practices in the ASEAN region.
