On 27 November 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the governments of Japan and India, organized a symposium titled “Towards Realization of ASEAN Connectivity Plus: Moving Forward with ASEAN-India Connectivity” at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. The opening remarks were given by Mr. Le Luong Minh, ASEAN Secretary-General, Mr. Pradap Pibulsonggram, Thailand’s Representative in the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, and Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Ambassador of India to Thailand.

The purpose of the symposium was to raise awareness and understanding of opportunities arising from ASEAN-India Connectivity and to share ideas on cooperation to enhance physical connectivity in the region, especially the economic corridors that connect ASEAN and South Asia, such as the Thailand-Myanmar-India Trilateral Highway, Mekong-India Economic Corridor (Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh – Bangkok – Dawei – Chennai) and Southern Economic Corridor, which would enhance supply chains, trade and investment, as well as future cooperation between the two regions.

The meeting was attended by 180 participants from related public and private agencies from ASEAN, India, and Japan, along with ambassadors and permanent representatives of ASEAN member countries, ASEAN dialogue partners, ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), and major financial organization for development, such as the Asia Development Bank (ADB), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The outcome of the symposium will be summarized and submitted as input to ASEAN meetings and forums on connectivity, to help fine-tune policies related to strengthening connectivity between ASEAN member countries and dialogue partners.