On 1 August 2019, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and H.E. Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, co-chaired the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting which is part of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings with its Dialogue Partners in the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) series of meetings during the 52^nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (52^nd AMM) and Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) in Bangkok.

       The ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting sought to strengthen the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership in all dimensions and noted the need to finalise a new Plan of Action for next year, following the implementation of the current ASEAN-India Plan of Action 2016-2020. The Meeting noted the convergence between ASEAN and India’s view on the Indo-Pacific, and the growing trade and investment between ASEAN and India. The Meeting also discussed regional issues, such as humanitarian and developmental assistance to Rakhine State, and the situation in the South China Sea. The Meeting supported the expansion of ASEAN-India connectivity via land and air links, especially via the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the aviation sector. In terms of economic collaboration, the Meeting discussed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and promoted cooperation between the private sector of ASEAN and India, capacity-building for MSMEs, as well as collaboration on science, technology, and innovation.

       Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to drive forward the ASEAN-India strategic partnership and to promote cooperation that would lead to concrete results and sustainable development. Thailand is the current country coordinator for ASEAN-India relations.

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