With ASEAN in focus, EAM talks connectivity in Indonesia, strategic partnership in Singapore
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India has also joined Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) as the first Dialogue Partner as the invitation of Jakarta.
With a focus on enhanced engagement with ASEAN, India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar is in Singapore after concluding the 3-day visit to Indonesia where he met his counterpart the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
During his meet with Indonesia FM Marsudi, both sides adopted of the Terms of Reference of the Joint Task Force meeting on Andaman- Aceh connectivity. The first meeting of the Joint Task Force will take place in Indonesia in November.
Last year PM Modi had visited Indonesia and during his meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, both sides discussed connectivity between India's Andaman Islands and Indonesia's Aceh province included cruise ship connectivity.
Pleasure to meet my Indonesian counterpart @Menlu_RI. My 1st bilat’l visit as EAM to ASEAN.Drawing on historical linkages to fashion a modern partnership.Agreed to address common challenges&explore shared opportunities.Our talks highlightd mutual support for territorial integrity pic.twitter.com/5R4Iw0wlDt
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 5, 2019
Indo Pacific was one of the key focus between Jaishankar-Marsudi meet. Remember Indonesia had played a crucial role in the adoption of ‘ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific'.
"Our Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific agreed during Prime Minister’s visit last year, is a recognition that India and Indonesia, as two major economies in this region need to develop synergies to harness the potential and meet the challenges that the region faces." EAM Jaishanker said at the press statements after him meet with Indonesian FM.
Adding, "We have the commonality of interest in working together on Indo-Pacific concept within EAS and I underline to the Minister that we see ASEAN Centrality as a prominent feature of our approach to the Indo-Pacific."
India has also joined Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) as the first Dialogue Partner as the invitation of Jakarta.
In Singapore, where is he from 6th to 10th, he will be co-chairing the 6th Meeting of Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) Foreign Minister of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
He will also call on Singapore’s Prime Minister & Deputy Prime Minister.
"The two sides will review the whole range of bilateral issues and provide the direction for further deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries", a ministry of external affairs release said.
PM Modi has visited Singapore 4 times, 2 times in 2015 and 2 times in 2018. It is interesting to note that Singapore was the first country in the world to join the RuPay card, which is an Indian payment gateway like visa or MasterCard.
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