The 25-year-old partnership between ASEAN and India is hoped to foster an ecosystem of peace, justice and prosperity.
By
NINA SUSILO from New Delhi
·3 minutes read
AFP PHOTO/PIB/Handout
In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau on January 25, 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting 10 Southeast Asian leaders as guests of honour at India\'s Republic Day celebrations as New Delhi seeks to blunt China\'s influence in the region.
NEW DELHI, KOMPAS – The 25-year-old partnership between ASEAN and India is hoped to foster an ecosystem of peace, justice and prosperity. Therefore, Indonesia has proposed an Indo-Pacific concept for the Pacific and Indian Ocean rims as an open and inclusive space based on a spirit of cooperation and the upholding of international law.
This Indo-Pacific concept was delivered by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a retreat session of the ASEAN-India Summit in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on Thursday (25/1/2018). The summit also serves to commemorate 25 years of ASEAN-India partnership. Attending the session were ASEAN heads of state and government, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “With this concept, we can avoid unhealthy rivalries that can lead to power projections,” Jokowi said.
Thus far, India has pushed for increasing its relationship with ASEAN through political and economic policies in order to balance China’s influence on the region. However, in economic terms, the ASEAN-India partnership is still relatively small compared to China-ASEAN trade value. In 2016, ASEAN-India’s economic cooperation was worth around US$470 million while ASEAN-China relations was worth six times that.
AFP PHOTO/PIB/Handout
In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau on Jan. 25, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) poses for a photograph with ASEAN heads of state at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts 10 Southeast Asian leaders as guests of honor at India\'s Republic Day celebrations as New Delhi seeks to blunt China\'s influence in the region.
Source of growth
President Jokowi said the Indo-Pacific concept would naturally grow from the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. A “building blocks” approach was deemed suitable for this concept. The approach can also be realized by strengthening bilateral and plurilateral cooperation such as ASEAN-India, regional mechanisms such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in the Indian Ocean, ASEAN-led mechanisms, especially the East Asia Summit (EAS), and an integration of Indian and Pacific Oceans’ cooperation mechanisms.
The President said this building blocks approach would also encourage the Indo-Pacific regional development as a center of global economic growth, trade and industry. However, the true foundation in developing the Indo-Pacific regional architecture is maritime cooperation. “Indonesia is strongly committed to improving its maritime cooperation through the IORA and the EAS,” Jokowi said.
In a plenary session on Thursday evening, Indonesia urged an immediate resolution to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deliberations. The RCEP is an initiative to integrate the ASEAN free trade areas (Aftas) and its six partner countries, namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia.
AFP PHOTO/PIB/Handout
In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau on January 25, 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) meets with ASEAN heads of state at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said the RCEP could boost Indonesia’s trade. “The RCEP is a powerful and useful trade bloc, not only for ASEAN but also for partner countries. This is because the RCEP comprises 50 percent of the global population and 32 percent of global GDP [gross domestic product],” he said.
Modi reaffirmed that India shared ASEAN’s values in peace and social conventions. Therefore, India will also be committed to strengthening maritime cooperation. India will also improve the ASEAN-India trade relationship, which has grown 25 times in the last 25 years.
Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, who accompanied the President in the summit, said maritime cooperation at an ASEAN level was strong. Currently, ASEAN has a connectivity blueprint that will last until 2025 and mechanisms to resolve maritime issues.
Retno said in the future, ASEAN countries and India had agreed to a consultation mechanism in maritime cooperation. “The principles that the President conveyed were also conveyed by other state leaders, including Prime Minister Modi. So, we share the same principles,” Retno said.
The President also held a bilateral meeting with Modi on Thursday evening.
