ASEAN-India: Shaping the Post 2015 Agenda, New Delhi
March 11, 2015

  • The Inaugural Session of the seventh edition of Delhi Dialogue, the pre-eminent annual Track 1.5 dialogue process for brainstorming on all aspects of the ASEAN-India relationship, took place in the evening of 11 March 2015 at New Delhi. The theme of this year’s DD is 'ASEAN-India: Shaping the Post 2015 Agenda'.
  • Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, gave the keynote address at the Inaugural Session, followed by addresses by H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragon, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand; H.E. Dr Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia; and H.E. A.M.Fachir, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. Shri V.K.Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs; H.E. Mr U Tin Oo Lwin, Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar; H.E. Dr. AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary General, ASEAN Secretariat; H.E. Mr Yong Chanthalangsy, Director General Institute of Foreign Affairs, Laos; H.E. Dato' Ramlan Ibrahim, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Simon Wong, Deputy Secretary(International), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore; H.E. Mr. Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, Executive Director, Commission on Higher Education of Philippines; and H.E. Mr. Hon Ton Sinh Thanh, Ambassador of Vietnam to India also participated in the inaugural session. Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr. Nabam Tuki, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and Ms. Ajanta Neog, Minister for Planning and Development of Assam attended as special invitees.
  • The dignitaries participated in panel discussions on 'Building Connectivity between India and ASEAN' and 'Future Direction of India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership’, which resulted in a productive debate and generated fresh ideas on ways to take the relationship forward. During the event, External Affairs Minister also released a book on the proceedings of Delhi Dialogue VI, edited by IDSA.
  • Earlier in the day, for the first time in Delhi Dialogue, a day-long, full-fledged, CEOs-led Business Session took place. Dr. Jyotsana Suri, President, FICCI made the welcome remarks, followed by Keynote address by H.E. Dr AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat and the Inaugural Address by Shri Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), MEA. There were two sessions to facilitate exchange of views on "ASEAN Economic Community: Benefits for the ASEAN and Indian Industry" with focus on ASEAN participation in Make in India and Integrating Regional Production Networks and Value Chains; and "Trade in Services as driver for future economic cooperation: Views from India & ASEAN". The discussions led to positive recommendations for taking the trade and investment relationship forward.
  • The Academic Session of DD VII will take place tomorrow (March 12, 2015) at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. There will be four sessions on Geopolitical, Socio-Cultural, Economic issues and the Way Forward. The deliberations will cover a wide range of discussions on subjects such as Maritime Security, Cyber Security, Building Knowledge Societies, Education & Skill Development including Mutual Recognition of Degrees, Strengthening Cultural Linkages and P2P contacts, Integrating regional production networks and value chains, Infrastructure & Connectivity, Energy and the way forward with future directions for ASEAN-India relations. The focus of all these issues will be on strengthening the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership in the long run.

         New Delhi
         March 11, 2015