On 11 – 12 April 2019, as Thailand’s ASEAN SOM Leader and Country Coordinator for ASEAN – India Dialogue Relations, Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, co-chaired the 21st ASEAN – India Senior Officials’ Meeting with Mrs. Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs of India, in New Delhi.

 

The meeting provided a platform for ASEAN and India to discuss key cooperation in moving forward the ASEAN – India Strategic Partnership. On the economic front, India reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with ASEAN in finalising the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations in 2019, and to work towards achieving the bilateral trade target of 200 billion USD by 2022. On connectivity, the meeting agreed to enhance cooperation on land-air-sea connectivity, including marine protection and blue economy, the topic that Thailand wishes to highlight at the 3rd ASEAN – India Workshop on Blue Economy in Thailand later this year. In addition, both sides welcomed the impressive developments in India and ASEAN and had a constructive exchange of views on regional and international issues.

 

As Coordinator for ASEAN – India Dialogue Relations, the Permanent Secretary addressed many key issues in promotion of ASEAN – India cooperation, including leading the discussion on “Sustainable Development and Closing the Development Gaps”, which focused on Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities in 2019, seeking to pursue sustainability in all dimensions, as well as closing development gaps and improving human capital development in ASEAN.

 

As Country Coordinator for ASEAN – India Dialogue Relations (2018 – 2021), Thailand will host the next 22nd ASEAN – India Senior Officials’ Meeting in 2020.