East Asia Summit

Background

1. The concept of an East Asia Grouping was first promoted in 1991 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. After considerable internal discussions, the 10th ASEAN Summit held in Vientiane on November 29, 2004 agreed to hold the first East Asia Summit (EAS) in Malaysia in 2005. The Summit also tasked the ASEAN Foreign Ministers to work out the details regarding modalities and participation. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed that the first EAS would involve ASEAN, + 3 countries (China, Japan and ROK) as well as countries that fulfill the following criteria: Substantive relations with ASEAN, Full Dialogue Partner status and Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)

2. The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) held in Vientiane on July 26, 2005 welcomed the participation of ASEAN, Japan, ROK, Australia, India and New Zealand in the first EAS.

3. Four East Asia Summits have been held so far; the first East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December, 2005; the second East Asia Summit was held in Cebu (Philippines) on 15 January, 2007, the third was held in Singapore on 21 November, 2007 and the fourth in Chaam Hua Hin, Thailand on 25 October, 2009.

4. The First Summit adopted a Declaration that outlines the objectives and modalities of the EAS. This, inter alia, states that the efforts of the East Asia Summit to promote community building will form an integral part of the regional architecture. The statement refers to the EAS focusing on economic interaction and trade & investment expansion and liberalization.

5. Energy was the main focus of the second East Asia Summit. Leaders signed the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security. Leaders also decided to initiate concrete projects in five priority EAS cooperation areas before 3rd EAS. They are Energy, Finance, Education, Avian Influenza and Disaster Mitigation. The Summit welcomed, among others, initiatives such as the revival of the Nalanda University in India to improve regional understanding and the appreciation of one another's heritage and history. The Leaders agreed to launch a Track Two study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA) among EAS participants and welcomed Japan’s proposal for an Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). They also agreed to forge closer coordination among the national emergency response and management mechanisms for natural disaster mitigation.

6. The Third East Asia Summit focused on the issues of Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The centerpiece of the EAS Meeting was adoption of the “Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and Environment”. The Declaration calls for mobilizing financial support, capacity building, development of clean technologies, exchange of scientific and technical expertise, joint studies, promotion of public awareness and development of policy measures.

7. The Fourth East Asia Summit deliberated on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis, Education and Disaster Management, among other issues. The 4th EAS agreed to take a calibrated step-by-step approach on the issue of rolling back the Stimulus-packages by Asian nations. It adopted Chaam Hua Hin Statement on Disaster Management. A Joint Press Statement on the Revival of Nalanda University to express political support to India’s effort to revive the Nalanda University located in the State of Bihar was also issued. Expansion of EAS - Admission of US & Russia

8. The 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July, 2010 recommended entry of US and Russia to the EAS for consideration at the 5th EAS scheduled to be held in October, 2010. India welcomed the proposed entry of both the countries. Accordingly, the Secretary of State of U.S and the Foreign Minister of Russia have been invited to attend the 5th EAS in Hanoi, Vietnam as ‘Guest of the host’ with formal entry scheduled for 2011.

India’s Approach to the EAS 9.Prime Minister, in his remarks, at the first EAS Summit said that the long-term goal of the EAS should be the creation of a harmonious and prosperous community of nations that would pool its common resources to tackle common challenges. He also pointed out that a virtual Asian Economic Community was emerging with the wide-ranging FTAs that linked the countries of the region. He said that, rather than a set of sub-optimal arrangements, there was need for a wider perspective so that ongoing processes could become building blocks for a larger vision. In this context, he suggested that a Pan-Asian FTA could be the starting block for a community. Prime Minister also said that the EAS needed to go for deeper economic integration where markets became common and there was free flow of goods, services, investment, ideas, technology and people between the countries. At the 1st EAS emphasis was on economic cooperation.

Initiatives under EAS – Nalanda University

10. The proposal to revive the Nalanda University as an international University was proposed under the aegis of the East Asia Summit (EAS). At the 4th EAS Summit held in Thailand in October 2009, the EAS member countries issued a Joint Press Statement on the Revival of Nalanda University. They supported the establishment of the Nalanda University as a non-state, non-profit, secular and self governing international institution with a continental focus that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries of Asia – irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, ethnicity or social-economic background – to enable them to acquire liberal and human education and to give them the means needed for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies and thus achieve qualities of tolerance and accommodation.

11. The Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Prof. Amartya Sen for the establishment of the Nalanda University. The Nalanda Mentor Group, consisting of eminent personalities and academics was mandated to examine all aspects, including the academic and administrative structure, that would facilitate the revival of Nalanda as a centre of excellence in Asia. The NMG held six meetings: Singapore (July 2007); Tokyo (December 2007); New York (May 2008); New Delhi (August 2008); an on-site meeting in Nalanda/Gaya in February 2009 and New Delhi (August 2010).

12. Incorporating the suggestions and recommendations of the NMG, the Government of India drafted the Nalanda University Bill 2010 to establish the University in the Indian State of Bihar. The Bill was unanimously passed in the Parliament and is now the Nalanda University Act.

13. As envisaged in the Act, the Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) shall exercise powers as the Interim Governing Board for a period of one year or till such time that the members of the Governing Board have been nominated, whichever is earlier. 14. A Vice Chancellor designate has been appointed and is entrusted with the task of operationalizing the project offices in Delhi and Bihar and initiate further steps towards the establishment of the University. The State Government of Bihar has already acquired and transferred 446 acres of land in Rajgir (in the vicinity of the original Nalanda University site) and is planning to pursue upgradation of infrastructure around the proposed site.

15. At the EAS Mnisterial Meeting in July 2010, India apprised the members of the progress of the Nalanda University project and conveyed that India was looking forward to specific commitments and support from the member-countries for the project. It is envisaged that the Governing Board of the proposed university shall have five members amongst the member-States.

5th East Asia Summit

16. The 5th East Asia Summit would deliberate on the global and regional issues of importance including the fragile global economic recovery and review on going cooperation in areas such as Energy, Environment, climate change and sustainable development, Financial Cooperation, Natural Disaster Mitigation, Education and Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA). The Prime Minister would take this opportunity to brief the Summit on our thinking on these issues and on the developments in the Nalanda University Project. The leaders would also exchange views on regional and international issues and on the future cooperation in EAS. The Summit would adopt the ‘Hanoi Declaration on the Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit’.

INDIA-EU RELATIONS

India-EU relations go back to the early 1960s. India was among the first countries to
establish diplomatic relations with the (then) European Economic Community (EEC).
The 1994 cooperation agreement signed between EU and India took bilateral relations
well beyond trade and economic cooperation. The 5th India-EU Summit at The Hague in
2004 endorsed the EU’s proposal to upgrade its relationship with India to a ‘Strategic
Partnership’. The two sides also adopted a Joint Action Plan in 2005 which provides for
Strengthening Dialogue and Consultation mechanisms; Deepening political dialogue and
cooperation; Bringing together People and Cultures; Enhancing Economic Policy
Dialogue and Cooperation; and Developing Trade and Investment.
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA
Rashtrapatiji visited Strasbourg from 25-26 April 2007 at the invitation of the President
of the European Parliament (EP). During the visit, he addressed the Parliament and met
with the President of the European Parliament. Members of the India Delegation of the
EP, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner of enterprise and
Industry called on him. It was the first ever visit by a President of India to the EP.
POLITICAL DIALOGUE
India and the EU have held ten annual Summits to date. The 10th India-EU Summit was
held in New Delhi on 6 November 2009. India was represented by Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and the EU was represented by Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister
of Sweden and European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. The
Summit reviewed India-EU Relations and exchanged views on developments in India and
EU; recognized the need to pursue the reform of the principal UN bodies with a view to
enhancing the representativeness, transparency and effectiveness of the system; resolved
to jointly fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestation; took note of the signing of the
India-EU Agreement in the field of nuclear fusion energy research underlining the
importance of energy security and clean energy; agreed to work towards early conclusion
of the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement and the Maritime Agreement. The
leaders also identified trade and investment, energy, counter-terrorism, science and
technology, climate change, and movement of peoples and as priority areas of
cooperation.
India and the EU also interact regularly at the Foreign Ministers level. The 21st India-EU
Ministerial Meeting took place in New Delhi on 22 June 2010. External Affairs Minister
Shri S.M. Krishna led the Indian delegation. The EU side was led EU High
Representative Ms. Catherine Ashton. India-EU Relations, regional issues both around
Europe and India and global issues including climate change, terrorism, global financial
crisis and energy security were discussed at the Ministerial Meeting.
There is a regular mechanism of Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) between India and the
EU. Eighteen SOMs have been held till date.
PARLIAMENTARY INTERACTION
The European Parliament (EP) has established a India Delegation in the European
Parliament which has 20 members and 20 substitute in the delegation. Mr. Graham
Watson, British MEP is the current Chairperson and an EP India Delegation led by him
visited India at the end of April, 2010.
INDIA-EU BUSINESS LINKS
The EU, as a bloc of 27 countries, is India’s largest trading partner while India was EU’s
9th largest trading partner in 2009. EU-India trade has been growing steadily reaching €
52.9 billion in 2009 (2.3% of EU’s total trade). In 2009, India was the 10th largest
exporter to the EU and had a share of 2.1% in the total EU imports. On the other hand,
India was the 8th largest importer of EU’s products and had a share of 2.5 % in the EU’s
global exports. In 2009, total Indian exports to the EU in the different services sector was
7.5 billion euros whereas total Indian imports from the EU was worth 8.8 billion euros
The EU is one of the largest sources of FDI for India. However, the FDI inflows from the
EU to India declined from Euro 4.019 billion in 2007 to Euro 3.27 billion in 2008. India
has also emerged as a major investor in the EU countries with total investment from India
increasing from Euro 1.003 billion in the year 2007 to Euro 3.69 billion in 2008.
INSTITUTIONAL INTERACTIONS
India and the EU have held nine rounds of negotiations for a bilateral Broad-based Trade
and Investment Agreement. Negotiations commenced in 2007 and cover Trade in goods,
Sanitary & Phyto-sanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade in services,
Investment, Intellectual Property Rights and Geographical Indications, Competition
Policy, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Trade Defence , Dispute Settlement). The India-
EU Joint Commission with its three sub-commission on trade, economic cooperation and
development cooperation meets annually. India and EU have Joint Working Groups on
Counter Terrorism, Consular Issues, Agriculture and Marine Products, Energy,
Environment, Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues,
Textiles, Steel, Information Technology & Communications, Pharmaceuticals &
Biotechnology, Food Processing Industries and Customs Cooperation. Both sides also
have regular dialogues on Security, Human Rights, Macroeconomy and Science and
Technology.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
India and the EU have signed bilateral agreements which includes cooperation in the field
of Science & Technology in 2001 which was renewed in 2007; Joint Vision Statement
for promoting cooperation in the field of information and communications technology in
2001; customs cooperation agreement in 2004; Memorandum of Understanding on
Cooperation on Employment and Social Affairs in November 2006; Horizontal Civil
Aviation Agreement in 2008; Joint Declaration in field of Education in 2008; Joint
Declaration on Multilingualism in March 2009 and Agreement in the field of nuclear
fusion energy research in November 2009.

India’s relation with African Union

Background: The African Union is an international organisation
consisting of 53 African member states ( excluding Morocco but including
Saharwi ADR). It was founded in Durban on July 10, 2002, replacing the
Organization of African Unity( OAU).
In 1999, the Heads of State / Government of the OAU issued the Sirte
Declaration calling for establishing an African Union to accelerate the process
of integration in the African Continent. The Lome Summit of 2000 adopted the
Constitutive Act and the Lusaka Summit of 2001 drew the roadmap for
implementation of the African Union. Its headquarters is located in Addis
Ababa. The birth of the AU is a legacy of the Pan-African movement towards
creating institutions to achieve the objectives of peace, political stability,
democracy, economic integration and good governance. The Regional
Economic Communities like Economic Community of Central African States
(ECCAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community
(EAC), Arab Maghreb Union (AMU/UMA), The Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD) and Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) are contributing
to the progress of integration.
Summits:
Since the inception of the African Union, India has been regularly
participating in its various Summits. India participated in the AU Summit in
Durban in July 2002 and in Maputo (Mozambique) in July 2003. At the Durban
and Maputo Summits, Shri Shashank, Secretary (EAA) carried a message
from Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, which was circulated to all the African
Heads of State/Government as a document. The Indian delegation to the 3rd
AU Summit in Addis Ababa in July 2004 was led by Sh. Rajiv Sikri, Special
Secretary (ER), and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a message of
warm felicitations for the Summit. At the Sirte Summit (Libya) in 2005, the
Indian delegation was led by Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for
External Affairs. The Indian delegation for the Khartoum AU Summit in
January 2006 was a small one, and the Indian delegation for the Summit held
in June-July 2006 in Banjul (Gambia) was a composite one led by Secretary
(West). For the AU Summit in January 2007 in Addis Ababa, the Indian
delegation from the MEA was led by Sh. Nalin Surie, Secretary (West) and
included JS (WA). 9th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly (AU
Summit) was held in Accra from 1 - 3 July 2007. The Indian delegation from
the MEA was led by Shri. K.C. Singh, AS (IO) and included JS (WA).
The 10th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union took
place in Addis Ababa Jan 31-Feb 02, 2008 whose theme was “Industrial
Development of Africa”. The Indian Delegation was led by Shri Anand
Sharma, MoS for External Affairs. In his Address to the Executive Council on
January 29, 2008 he announced the India Africa Forum Summit to be held at
New Delhi from April 4-9, 2008. He also met the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, a
number of HOS /HOG/EAMs and the Chairperson of African Union and
personally handed over the invitation of IAFS 2008 to them. MoS (AS) again
led the Indian Delegation to the 11th Ordinary Session of the Assembly at
Sharma-el Sheik, Egypt from June 26-29,2008 whose theme was “Meeting
the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation”. The 12th and
13th Ordinary Summits of AU were held at Addis Ababa in February 2009 and
at Sirte, Libya in July, 2009 respectively and were attended by Indian
Permanent representatives to AU.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MoS for External Affairs, participated in the 14th
Ordinary Summit of The African Union from 25th January to 2nd February,
2010, whose theme was “Information and Communication Technologies in
Africa: Prospects and Challenges for Development”. He attended the opening
ceremony of the Executive Council, called on the Ethiopian Prime Minister,
Foreign Ministers of a number of African states and Mr. Jean Ping,
Chairperson of AUC and discussed a number of matters of mutual interest.
During the visit, he also inaugurated the Tele-medicine facility at the African
Union Clinic which received wide publicity.
Extraordinary Summits:
India sent its Special Envoy, Shri Salman Kurshid for the Extraordinary
Summit held in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in September 2004. Mrs.
Shashi Tripathi, Secretary (West) led the Indian delegation for the AU
Extraordinary Summit held in Addis Ababa in August 2005, and also for the
Extraordinary Summit held in October 2005 in Addis Ababa. These were on
UN reforms.
India-Africa Forum Summit
The first ever India-Africa Forum Summit, attended by the countries
representing AU and the Regional Economic Communities of Africa, was held
in New Delhi on 8-9 April, 2008. Leaders of 14 African counties and the
African Union Commission participated. It represented a turning point in the
India- AU relations.
The Summit adopted the Delhi Declaration and the Africa-India
Framework for Cooperation, which constitute the blueprint for cooperation
between India and Africa in the 21st century. Under this new framework,
relationships will be further developed in the areas of trade, economy,
agriculture, education, science, technology, water management and human
resource development. Constructive discussions were also held on the issues of food and energy security, UN reforms and climate change. It was also
agreed that the next IAFS would be held in Africa in 2011.
India announced unilateral duty free and preferential market access for
exports from all Least Developed Countries, 34 of which are in Africa. The
scheme will cover 94% of India’s total tariff lines. Specifically, it will provide
preferential market access on tariff lines that comprise 92.55 of global exports
of all Least Developed Countries. Products of immediate interest to Africa
include cotton, cocoa, aluminium ores, copper ores, cashew nuts, cane sugar,
ready-made garments, fish fillets and non-industrial diamonds. India would
double its quantum of credit to USD 5.4 billion from the present USD 2.15
billion over next five years.
In order to enhance opportunities for African Students to pursue higher
studies in India, the Government of India has doubled long-term scholarships
for undergraduates, postgraduates and higher courses and increased the
number of training slots under our technical assistance programmes from
1100 to 1600 every year. The Prime Minster of India proposed that India and
Africa work towards the establishment of an India-Africa Volunteer Corps
which would be devoted to development work. The Volunteer Corps can, on a
pilot basis, identify projects in the areas of public health, informal education
and women’s empowerment and as we gather more experience, the scope of
activities can be progressively widened. Prime Minister also proposed to
enhance Indian aid to Africa by expanded concessional lines of credit and
undertaking projects against grants in excess of USD 500 million over the
next five to six years, focusing on human resource development and capacity
building. India will strengthen local capabilities by creating regional and pan –
African institutions of higher education, especially in pure sciences,
information technology and vocational education. India will also make
investments in research and development in renewable forms of energy and
agricultural development, through these institutions.
Several outreach events took place before or concurrent with the
Summit. These were(i) the first ever India-Africa Editors Conference;(ii) joint
performances by Indian and African cultural troupes; (iii) a seminar of
intellectuals from Africa and India on India-Africa Partnership on the 21st
century(vi) a programme for youth and women from Africa; and (v) a business
conclave.
Follow-up of India-Africa Forum Summit: Following visit of a high
level delegation from AUC to New Delhi, the Joint Action Plan, with a view to
implementing the decisions of the IAFS 2008, has been finalized & launched
on 10th March 2010 between the Government of India and the African Union.
The decision as to the location of the four Institutions viz, the India-Africa
Institute of Foreign Trade, India-Africa Institute of Information Technology,
India Africa Institute of Education Planning and Administration and India Africa
Diamond Institute besides 10 India-Africa vocational Training Centres and
construction of 5 prototype low cost houses is presenting being finalized by
the AUC. Responses have already started coming from the African Union in this regard. The award of first 75 of the total 300 PhD and maters
scholarships in the field of Agriculture is already underway and the scholars
selected from various African countries have already started reaching India to
pursue Ph.D and M.Sc courses. Under CV Raman International Fellowship
for African Researchers, applications have been invited from African
researchers. These will be short-term, fully-funded scholarships. FICCI has
been designated as the coordinating partner for this fellowship programme.
Pan-African e-Network Project:
The proposal for establishing the Pan-African e-Network Project was
made by the then President of India at the Pan-African Parliament in 2004
and is being implemented in conjunction with the African Union. The offer was
examined by the African Union in 2005 and the Advisory Committee to the
Chairperson concluded that the project would suit the requirements of Africa
in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals.
The Project was inaugurated by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the then
Minister of External Affairs on February 26, 2009 from the TCIL Centre in New
Delhi. The process to implement the project was undertaken by establishing
a Steering Committee, which is co-chaired by the Commissioner for
Infrastructure and the India’s Permanent Representative to the African Union
(the Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia). An agreement between GOI and the
African Union was signed in New Delhi in October 2005 and seven meetings
of the Steering Committee have so far been held. The meetings are cochaired
by the Ambassador of India, who is also the Permanent
Representative of India to AU, with the Commissioner for Infrastructure
Development of AU. JS (WA) and representatives from IGNOU, TCIL, Amity
University also participate in the deliberations.
The project would use Indian expertise in information technology to
bring benefits of healthcare and higher education in Africa, including in remote
areas. The network will be connected by a satellite/fibre optical network for
tele-medicine, tele-education and VVIP connectivity. The current project cost
is about USD 116 million, which will be given as a grant by the Government of
India. It consists of 5 regional universities, 5 regional super specialty
hospitals, 53 learning centres, 53 remote hospitals and 53 VVIP nodes in all
countries of Africa. These will be linked to 7 universities and 12 super
specialty hospitals in India. Each country is required to sign an agreement
with the Indian implementing agency, Telecommunication Consultants India
Limited (TCIL).
On Indian side 5 Universities and all 12 Super Speciality Hospitals are
integrated with the project. On African side, 47 countries have singed
agreements with TCIL. So far 3 out of 5 regional universities have been
integrated with the e-Network which are Kwame/Nkrumah University of S&T
and University of Ghana, Mekerere University of Uganda and Younde University of Cameroon. The Ibadan Hospital of Nigeria has so far integrated
with the project.
Ethiopia was the first beneficiary of the project under a pilot project,
which was completed in 2007 at a cost of US$2.13 million. India has also
committed to provide tele-medicine, tele-education and VIP connectivity
facility at AU Commission in Addis Ababa. A tele-medicine Centre was
inaugurated by the then MOS (ST), Dr Shashi Tharoor on February 28, 2010
during his visit to Addis Ababa in connection with the 14th Summit of AU.
Pan-African E-network project was inaugurated in February 2009 by
the then External Affairs Minister of India. Another inauguration took place on
August 16, 2010 when Shri S.M. Krishna, External Affairs Minister of India
interacted live with 12 Ministers of African countries. 23 countries have been
covered by this network where the project has been fully implemented.
India is a member of the newly established AU Partners Group
(AUPG), which meets periodically in Addis Ababa.
Visit of Chairperson of AU Commission:
H.E. Dr. Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of AU Commission paid an
official visit to India from 19-21 December 2006. He called on the President,
had meetings with the EAM, MOS (AS), and delivered a lecture at the Indian
Council of World Affairs (ICWA). He also visited TCIL and IGNOU and
observed the working of the Pan African tele-education project. On return, he
wrote to HOS/HOGs of all Member states on the importance of the project.
ITEC:
India has allocated 10 slots in the year 2008-2009 under the Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme to the AU
Commission personnel and all the slots have been fully utilized for the year
2007-09 and 2009-10.
Defence:
Among the various aspects of engagement with the African Union
Commission, their requirement for training and capacity building of their
nascent standby brigade, which were to be the building blocks of their
peacekeeping activities, are being discussed.
At the request of the AU commission, initial discussions on their
structures to be developed and capabilities to be enhanced were undertaken
between an Indian military delegation and the peace and security division of
the AU Commission in August 2006. The aim was to see how the Indian
experience can be shared with the AU’s efforts to enhance its own capacities
for peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Commemoration of 1st International Day of Non-Violence:

A joint commemoration of the 1st International Day of Non-Violence was held
on 2nd October 2007 at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa which
comprised of screening of a short film on Mahatma Gandhi and Millennium
Lecture on Mahatma Gandhi by His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of
Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and President of World Council of Churches.
The then Deputy Chairperson of African Union H.E. Mr. Patrick Mazimhaka
also addressed the gathering. The Ambassador also presented a photograph
of the bust of Mahatma Gandhi to be installed at the African Union
commission at that occasion.
Commissioner level visits:
Commissioner for Political Affairs and Commissioner for Infrastructure &
Energy participated in the Federalism Conference and India- Africa
Hydrocarbon Conference respectively in Nov. 2007. Commissioner for Rural
Economy & Agriculture participated in Avian Influenza Conference in Dec.
2007. Commissioner for Economic Affairs of AU participated in the
Partnership Summit 2008 in March 2008 and spoke on “ Ensuring Growth,
Making it Inclusive: The West Asian and African Views.” Deputy
Chairperson of AUC, Commissioner for Trade and Industry and
Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy participated in the India Africa
Forum Summit in April 2008. Commissioner for Infrastructure attended Exim
Bank Conclave in Delhi in March, 2009.
Following the terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26th November, 2008 , the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission and S&T Commissioner sent
letters expressing their heartfelt condolences on the loss of life and property
and expressed their hope that given the resilience of the country, the scourge
of violence will be defeated with grit and determination. Deputy Chairperson of
AUC also expressed his condolences in person.

India and the Commonwealth

The London Declaration of 1949 established the modern Commonwealth. In 1965,
the Commonwealth Secretariat was established in London, which became the
association's independent civil service, headed by a Secretary-General.
2. India is the largest member state of the Commonwealth, with nearly 60% of the total
population of the association. It is the fifth largest contributor to the Commonwealth budget
and programmes. It provides the largest number of technical experts engaged by the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation extending assistance to developing
Commonwealth countries after the UK. India is a member of key Commonwealth bodies,
including the Steering Committee on Commonwealth Action Programme for the Digital
Divide (now renamed Commonwealth Connects), the Standing Committee on Terrorism,
Commonwealth Advisory Board on Sports as well as the Executive, Accreditation and
Grant Committees of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Board of Governors.
3. India hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 1983 in
New Delhi. India hosted the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference
in 1957, 1975, 1991 and September 2007. India successfully hosted the Commonwealth
Youth Games in Pune in October 2008, Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and
Presiding Officers in January, 2010 and will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New
Delhi.
4. The present Commonwealth Secretary General, Shri Kamalesh Sharma assumed
office on April 1, 2008. He is the first Indian to be selected as the Secretary General of the
Commonwealth.
5. India’s contribution to the Commonwealth
a) India has contributed an amount of Euro 1 million to the Commonwealth Connects
Programme over the period 2006-09, as announced by Hon'ble PM at Malta
CHOGM in 2005.
b) India has increased its contribution to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical
Cooperation (CFTC) to £ 1 million in 2009-10.
c) In keeping with its commitment to the mandate, approved by the Commonwealth
Youth Ministers in the Bahamas in May 2006, Government of India has proposed to
undertake the responsibility for upgrading the physical infrastructure of the
Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre in Chandigarh and the Rajiv Gandhi
National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperambadur, which is estimated to cost
approximately £ 1 million.
d) India has decided to increase its contribution to the Commonwealth Joint office for
Small States Permanent Missions in New York to US$ 100,000 p.a. from 2007-08
and also initiated annual contributions for a new Small States Joint Office in Geneva
in 2010.
e) India supported and ensured approval of US $ 260,000 by the UN Democracy Fund
through its Advisory Board to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum for its
project on Councillor training for local democracy and good governance in South
Asia.
f) In the 60th Anniversary Year of the Modern Commonwealth in 2009, India
commemorated the event by release of a commemorative Stamps/First day covers
and commemorative coins which was distributed among the Commonwealth
leaders during the last CHOGM in Port of Spain in November 2009.
g) In 2010-11, India will be providing 250 slots under International Technical and
Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme specifically for Commonwealth
countries.
h) India has contributed US$ 120,000 to the Commonwealth Media Development Fund
for the period 2009-11.
Commonwealth’s Significance to India:
6. India has a natural partnership with the Commonwealth. It is a community of English
speaking countries. It has a preponderance of developing countries who want to promote
South-South cooperation. It is an association which puts a premium on democracy and
good governance, where India has so much to share with others. It provides a platform to
interact and build consensus with a very diverse group of countries, including G-8
countries like the UK and Canada, developing countries as well as Small Sates.
7. The Commonwealth is a unique international grouping with bulk of its membership
coming from 32 Small States/Island States. There is a great degree of genuine
appreciation among these States for India as the largest and a vibrant democracy and for
the high-technology advancement and economic progress India has achieved in the past
two decades.
8. A large number of Commonwealth countries also have a sizeable Indian population.
The promotion, maintenance and strengthening of healthy democratic institutions and rule
of law in these countries is relevant to India.
9. Though the UN remains the principal forum for multilateral action, the Commonwealth
is eminently placed in addressing many issues through its unique style of functioning which
is consensus-building, informality and goodwill. The informal ways in which dialogue is
conducted and decisions arrived at in the Commonwealth bodies provide a very good
basis for addressing common concerns on relevant international issues.

India- ASEAN Relations

India’s focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN is an outcome of the significant changes in the world’s political and economic scenario since the early 1990s and India’s own march towards economic liberalisation. India’s search for economic space has resulted in our ‘Look East’ policy. ASEAN’s economic, political and strategic importance in the larger Asia-Pacific Region and its potential to become a major partner of India in trade and investment is a significant factor in our policy paradigms. ASEAN’s steady expansion westward to include Myanmar has also brought it to our land boundaries. It now provides a land bridge for India to connect with the ASEAN countries. ASEAN, on its part, seeks access to India’s professional and technical strengths. Our traditional friendship with the CLMV countries also makes India a valuable ally for promoting the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

2. India and ASEAN have convergence in their security perspectives. India have vital stakes in peace and stability in the region, including the security of the sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean for smooth flow of raw materials, merchandise and energy supplies. Since 1996, India has been an active participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

There has been steady progress in the India-ASEAN relationship since the policy was initiated in 1991. India became sectoral dialogue partners of ASEAN in 1992. In 1996, this was upgraded to full dialogue partnership. Since 2002, we have annual Summits with ASEAN – along with China, Japan and Republic of Korea. These political level interactions are further strengthened through the Senior Officials’ Meetings, as also specialised working groups in the various functional areas.

ASEAN now has a charter which came into force on 15th December, 2008. With the adoption of this charter, is functioning as an organization within and its relationship with the outside world has acquired a new institutional form. In terms of this charter, Sh. Biren Nanda, India’s Ambassador to Indonesia has been appointed as India’s Ambassador/PR to ASEAN in succession to Shri N. Ravi.

Trade and Investment

5. India ASEAN trade statistics (in US$ billion)

6. India-ASEAN trade amounted to US $ 43.90 billion in 2009-10 which saw a slight decline on account of global recession. The value of our exports was US $ 18.11 billion and that of our imports was US $ 25.79 billion. In keeping with the trend for the past few years, at the 7th Summit in Thailand, we have agreed to work for a target of US $ 70 billion by 2012.

7. The Framework Agreement for Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, signed in 2005, is at the heart of our economic engagement with ASEAN. The key elements of Framework Agreement on CECA cover FTA in Goods, Services and Investment as well as Economic Cooperation in identified areas. The major component of FTA viz. the Trade-in-Goods (TiG) agreement was signed at the ASEAN-India Economic Ministerial Meeting held on the sidelines of the 41st AEM in Bangkok on August 13, 2009 after six years of intensive negotiations. The TiG agreement has come into force with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Brunei. For other ASEAN countries it would come into force when ratified by them. The next step in the Framework agreement is for conclusion of negotiations on Trade-in-Services and Investment Agreement for which a target date of March, 2011 has been agreed.

Ongoing Co-operation

8. ASEAN-India cooperation covers a wide field, including trade & investment, science & technology, (including IT, biotechnology, advanced materials, space sciences and their applications, etc), tourism, human resource development, transport & infrastructure, and health and pharmaceuticals. Some of the highlights of our cooperation are : -

(i) ASEAN and India have signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism in October 2003 in Bali, and in the same year, India acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The main forum for ASEAN security dialogue is the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). India has been attending annual meetings of this forum since 1996 and has actively participated in its various activities.

(ii) In the field of Pharmaceuticals and Health, during the official level India-ASEAN Working Group (AIWG) Meeting in October, 2008, a concept paper for cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sector was given to the ASEAN side. Similarly, an MOU submitted by Deptt. of AYUSH of India in the field of traditional medicine is also under consideration.

(iii) In the area of Human Resource Development Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Cambodia, LAO PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar have been established. Centres for English Language Training (CELT) have been set-up in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam while one in Indonesia is under process. India has also offered a number of ITEC/ICCR fellowships and training in various sectors.

(iv) Prime Minister has emphasized promotion of Tourism between India and ASEAN countries for realizing greater people to people contact. The Tourism Ministers of ASEAN and India held their second meeting on 25th January, 2010 and agreed to develop an India-ASEAN Tourism Agreement, Promotional chapter for tourism (APCT) and a familiarization trip from India to ASEAN. The MOU on Cooperation in Tourism Sector is under finalization.

(v) In the area of Information and Communication Technology, several activities have been completed in the past few years. TCIL is conducting a feasibility study on introduction of tele-education and tele-medicine in ASEAN countries.

(vi) With regard to People-to-people contacts, media, entertainment and sports, the media exchange programme entitled “ASEAN India Media Exchange Programme” was initiated to facilitate greater interaction and cooperation between ASEAN and India particularly in the area of media and information. Special Course for Diplomats from ASEAN Countries are conducted regularly at the Foreign Service Institute. The last one on 18 August-16 September 2010 where 31 diplomats from ASEAN countries participated in the course.

(vii) Under the agreed programme of Visit of 100 Students to India first batch of 50 student visited India on 10 days familiarization visit from 17-27 November 2008. The second batch of 50 ASEAN students visited India from 22 March to 2nd April 09. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has proposed the date of January, 2011 for the next batch of ASEAN Youth.

(viii) ASEAN Connectivity Initiative: An ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN connectivity was issued on 24th October, 2009 at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand to improve intra-ASEAN connectivity as well as connectivity with its dialogue partners. It called for developing an ASEAN Master Plan on regional connectivity through formation of a High level task force . It also called for completing an ASEAN ICT Master Plan in 2010 to improve connectivity.

We have achieved progress in the key area of connectivity. Today, there are over 215 direct and indirect flights every week between India and Singapore, 115 flights with Thailand and 50 with Malaysia. The work on the Trilateral Highway Project between India, Myanmar and Thailand is also progressing. ASEAN and India have also proposed to build a new highway India-Myanmar-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam at the India-ASEAN Ministerial meeting held in July, 2010. Under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation programme an agreement has been reached to build Delhi-Hanoi rail link. Under ICT connectivity Optical Fibres have been laid upto Mandalay in Myanmar.

(ix) Open Skies Agreement: In pursuance of PM’s announcement at the 6th ASEAN Summit at Singapore on 21st November 07 on open skies agreement ASEAN proposed ASEAN-India Aviation Cooperation Framework that would lead to an eventual Open Skies Agreement (OSA) between ASEAN and India. A draft Air Services Agreement (ASA) based upon the framework has been considered at these meetings. It has been agreed to continue the negotiations through the Joint Working Group which wis expected to meet early next year.

India-ASEAN Economic Cooperation

9. Some of the ongoing/completed activites are : a. ASEAN-India Cooperation fund: Projects are undertaken through this fund, which is managed by the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. An amount of US $ 11,410,540 has been contributed by India, so far, under this fund. There are more than 40 projects under various stages of execution, some of which are as under: Collaborative R&D & Workshop on Thermally Sprayed Ceramic-based Coatings. Establishment of a Digital S&T Library in ASEAN countries. Human Resource Development in Free and Open Source Software. Establishing VSAT based Tele-Education and Tele-medicine network in CLMV countries Training of ASEAN Diplomats in India Establishment of Centres of English Language Training (CELT) and Enterpreneurship Development Centres (EDC) in CLMV countries. Space cooperation

b. ASEAN Development Fund: An amount of US $1 million was contributed by India to ASEAN Development Fund over a span of three years from 2005-07 to support the Vientianne Action Programme of the ASEAN countries.

c. ASEAN-India S&T fund: A fund with a US$ 1 million contribution from India has been established in India to promote joint collaborative R&D research projects in Science & Technology sectors. The first meeting of the General Council of the Fund was held on June 1, 2010 and approved four proposals for funding from S&T fund.

d. India-ASEAN Green Fund: An India-ASEAN Green Fund is proposed to be established with a corpus of US $ 5 million to promote adaptation and mitigation technologies in the area of Climate change in ASEAN countries. The rules of management of the Fund have been adopted at the 12th JCC Meeting held at Jakarta in May, 2010. The allocation of funds is being processed by the Ministry of Environment.

A deepening relationship

10. The India-ASEAN relationship has acquired maturity. The interest of the ASEAN in India has remained unabated since the former’s welcome of our ‘Look East Policy’. There is mutual recognition that strengthened India-ASEAN relations, which are rooted in deep historical and cultural ties, serve the interests of both India and ASEAN. The mutual desire to move ahead rapidly is also clear. The annual Summits are an unqualified success in building strong ties grounded in an impressive architecture of regional cooperation, for India’s benefit. An India-ASEAN Trade Fair and Business Summit in March, 2011 will be held at New Delhi. The annual dialogue with ASEAN viz. Delhi-dialogue-III would also be conducted at the same time. The ASEAN-India Economic Ministers have already announced the target date of March, 2011 for completion of our negotiations on the Trade in Services and Investment Agreement.

11. The 8th India-ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place in Hanoi, Vietnam on 30th October, 2010. This would also be the first Summit after coming into force of India-ASEAN Trade-in-Goods Agreement on 1st January, 2010. The leaders will also share their thoughts on a series of events that have been planned in the next year leading to the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in 2012. The India-ASEAN Vision 2020 document, taking into account the shift in global economy towards Asia, would also be unveiled at the Commemorative Summit. The discussions while taking stock of the relations would also cover new inititatives and see an exchange of ideas on global and regional issues.