India & ASEAN Contribute To Ongoing Rebalancing Of Global Order: Jaishankar At Delhi Dialogue Session

India is hosting the two-day conclave to mark the 30th anniversary of its relations with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (Image: ANI)

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday took part in the Ministerial Session of 12th edition of Delhi Dialogue along with ASEAN Foreign Ministers and said that India & ASEAN contribute to the ongoing rebalancing of the global order. "We are driven by rising consumer class, a strong start-up ecosystem, growing internet economy & robust demographic dividend," Jaishankar said. 

India is hosting the two-day conclave to mark the 30th anniversary of its relations with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The conclave is largely expected to explore ways to deal with the adverse impact of the Ukraine crisis on trade, economy and regional security as well as to further broad base two-way ties.

"From the Indian perspective, ASEAN lies at the center of the Indo-Pacific, geographically, culturally and strategically. ASEAN centrality is self-evident especially as its architecture has such wide coverage," he pointed out. 

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar said that India fully supports a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN with a central role in the Indo-Pacific and both sides should identify a new set of priorities while navigating the "arduous path" arising from developments in Ukraine. 

During his opening address at a special meeting of India-ASEAN foreign ministers in Delhi, Jaishankar spoke about the "geopolitical headwinds" which was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact on food, energy security, prices of fertilisers and commodities as well as logistics and supply chains.

Meanwhile, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who is also attending the conclave, slammed Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, saying such actions if unchecked can threaten the "whole system of peace and stability which we have depended on for the basis of our growth, development and prosperity over many decades".

Additionally, the leaders also discussed the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and pointed out that it has not fully abated and there is much ground yet to be covered.

The ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region. India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, are its dialogue partners.

ASEAN-India dialogue relations started with the establishment of a sectoral partnership in 1992. This graduated to full dialogue partnership in December 1995 and summit level partnership in 2002.

(With inputs from PTI.)