Report Wire

Tag: ASEAN summit

  • ASEAN summit: Jaishankar meets Blinken; discusses Ukraine struggle, Indo-US ties

    By PTI

    PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken right here on Sunday and mentioned bilateral ties, the raging Ukraine battle, vitality points, G20 and the state of affairs within the Indo-Pacific, days forward of a attainable assembly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden.

    The assembly between the highest diplomats of the 2 nations passed off on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit right here within the Cambodian capital.

    Jaishankar is accompanying Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who’s main the Indian delegation to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the seventeenth East Asia Summit right here.

    Jaishankar and Blinken met days forward of a possible bilateral between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden on the margins of the G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia from November 15-16.

    “A good meeting with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken. Discussed Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, energy, G20 and bilateral relations,” Jaishankar mentioned in a tweet, indicating the subjects he mentioned with Blinken.

    assembly with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken .

    Discussed Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, vitality, G20 and bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/Cmw3xwgBbw

    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 13, 2022

    “I met Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the margins of the @ASEAN summit today in Phnom Penh to discuss ongoing efforts to expand our partnership & mitigate the effects of Russia’s war on Ukraine. The U.S. supports India’s #G20 Presidency,” Blinken tweeted.

    I met Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the margins of the @ASEAN summit as we speak in Phnom Penh to debate ongoing efforts to broaden our partnership & mitigate the consequences of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine. The U.S. helps India’s #G20 Presidency. #USIndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/mLfzNOqJct

    — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 13, 2022

    Jaishankar’s assembly with Blinken passed off after his assembly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday and talks with Ukraine international minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday right here.

    US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has mentioned that President Biden and Prime Minister Modi have a productive and really sensible relationship. Sullivan mentioned that President Biden was wanting ahead to seeing Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali.

    “I would point out Prime Minister Modi has already been to the White House since President Biden took office, and the two of them have had the opportunity to meet in person multiple times and to talk by phone and on video multiple times,” he instructed reporters on the White House on Thursday.

    He mentioned the 2 leaders see frequent pursuits on various vital points and have actually labored collectively to strengthen the US-India partnership.

    “When you add all that up, it is a productive, very practical relationship,” Sullivan mentioned. “President Biden is looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi at the G20 this year, as we look ahead to the next year,” he mentioned.

    India will maintain the presidency of the G20 subsequent yr and there’s a risk of a US presidential go to to the nation.

    India has not but condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been sustaining that the disaster should be resolved by diplomacy and dialogue.

    Since the Ukraine battle started in February, Prime Minister Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy various instances.

    In a cellphone dialog with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi mentioned that there could be “no military solution” and that India is able to contribute to any peace efforts. At a bilateral assembly with Putin within the Uzbek metropolis of Samarkand on September 16, Modi instructed him that “today’s era is not of war.”

    In the previous couple of months, India has elevated the import of discounted crude oil from Russia however rising disquiet over it by a number of Western powers.

    In Phnom Penh, Jaishankar met UN chief Antonio Guterres on the finish of the ASEAN gala dinner on Saturday.

    Jaishankar held additionally talks together with his counterpart from Thailand Don Pramudwinai.

    “Always nice to catch up with DPM & FM Don Pramudwinai of Thailand. Discussed our shared regional concerns and the strengthening partnership with ASEAN,” he tweeted.

    “Met Canadian colleagues Trade Minister @mary_ng and FM @melaniejoly at the ASEAN gala dinner. All for greater trade and strategic convergence, while countering terrorism and opposing radicalization,” he mentioned in one other tweet.

    Jaishankar on Saturday mentioned a variety of points together with his counterparts from Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.

    PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken right here on Sunday and mentioned bilateral ties, the raging Ukraine battle, vitality points, G20 and the state of affairs within the Indo-Pacific, days forward of a attainable assembly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden.

    The assembly between the highest diplomats of the 2 nations passed off on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit right here within the Cambodian capital.

    Jaishankar is accompanying Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who’s main the Indian delegation to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the seventeenth East Asia Summit right here.

    Jaishankar and Blinken met days forward of a possible bilateral between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden on the margins of the G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia from November 15-16.

    “A good meeting with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken. Discussed Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, energy, G20 and bilateral relations,” Jaishankar mentioned in a tweet, indicating the subjects he mentioned with Blinken.

    assembly with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken .
    Discussed Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, vitality, G20 and bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/Cmw3xwgBbw
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 13, 2022
    “I met Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the margins of the @ASEAN summit today in Phnom Penh to discuss ongoing efforts to expand our partnership & mitigate the effects of Russia’s war on Ukraine. The U.S. supports India’s #G20 Presidency,” Blinken tweeted.

    I met Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the margins of the @ASEAN summit as we speak in Phnom Penh to debate ongoing efforts to broaden our partnership & mitigate the consequences of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine. The U.S. helps India’s #G20 Presidency. #USIndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/mLfzNOqJct
    — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 13, 2022
    Jaishankar’s assembly with Blinken passed off after his assembly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday and talks with Ukraine international minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday right here.

    US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has mentioned that President Biden and Prime Minister Modi have a productive and really sensible relationship. Sullivan mentioned that President Biden was wanting ahead to seeing Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali.

    “I would point out Prime Minister Modi has already been to the White House since President Biden took office, and the two of them have had the opportunity to meet in person multiple times and to talk by phone and on video multiple times,” he instructed reporters on the White House on Thursday.

    He mentioned the 2 leaders see frequent pursuits on various vital points and have actually labored collectively to strengthen the US-India partnership.

    “When you add all that up, it is a productive, very practical relationship,” Sullivan mentioned. “President Biden is looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi at the G20 this year, as we look ahead to the next year,” he mentioned.

    India will maintain the presidency of the G20 subsequent yr and there’s a risk of a US presidential go to to the nation.

    India has not but condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been sustaining that the disaster should be resolved by diplomacy and dialogue.

    Since the Ukraine battle started in February, Prime Minister Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy various instances.

    In a cellphone dialog with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi mentioned that there could be “no military solution” and that India is able to contribute to any peace efforts. At a bilateral assembly with Putin within the Uzbek metropolis of Samarkand on September 16, Modi instructed him that “today’s era is not of war.”

    In the previous couple of months, India has elevated the import of discounted crude oil from Russia however rising disquiet over it by a number of Western powers.

    In Phnom Penh, Jaishankar met UN chief Antonio Guterres on the finish of the ASEAN gala dinner on Saturday.

    Jaishankar held additionally talks together with his counterpart from Thailand Don Pramudwinai.

    “Always nice to catch up with DPM & FM Don Pramudwinai of Thailand. Discussed our shared regional concerns and the strengthening partnership with ASEAN,” he tweeted.

    “Met Canadian colleagues Trade Minister @mary_ng and FM @melaniejoly at the ASEAN gala dinner. All for greater trade and strategic convergence, while countering terrorism and opposing radicalization,” he mentioned in one other tweet.

    Jaishankar on Saturday mentioned a variety of points together with his counterparts from Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.

  • India, ASEAN international locations promise to spice up cooperation in opposition to terrorism

    India and ASEAN international locations vowed to determine a complete strategic partnership and improve cooperation in opposition to terrorism after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the nineteenth ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh on Saturday.

    Dhankhar is in Cambodia for his three-day go to. This yr marks the thirtieth anniversary of ASEAN-India relations and is being celebrated because the ASEAN-India Friendship Year.

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a world organisation that has 10 member international locations in Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    The ASEAN member states and India sought to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity by establishing new dialogue platforms between India and the ten-member bloc.

    In a joint assertion, they acknowledged the deep civilisational linkages, maritime connectivity, and cross-cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and India which have grown stronger over the past 30 years, offering a powerful basis for ASEAN-India relations.

    Boosting the 🇮🇳🇻🇳 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPSecretariat met PM Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam on the margins of ASEAN-India Summit.

    Reaffirmed to work collectively within the areas of commerce, economic system, safety, tradition, & synergy in worldwide area. pic.twitter.com/ieW6cZPvXT

    — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 12, 2022

    Before addressing the summit, Dhankhar and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held discussions on methods to additional improve bilateral ties, together with in areas like human assets, de-mining and growth initiatives.

    In the joint assertion, India and ASEAN nations declared to boost cooperation within the digital economic system via a collection of regional capacity-building actions in digital transformation, digital commerce, digital abilities and innovation, in addition to Hackathons.

    They additionally mentioned that they might improve cooperation in good agriculture together with the change of finest practices in the usage of new applied sciences to develop a future-ready, resilient, and sustainable meals provide.

    “We will explore cooperation such as city-to-city partnerships between ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) and Smart City Mission of India by fostering exchanges of best practices and capacity-building to help build cities that are resilient, innovative, well-connected, and technologically advanced,” the assertion learn.

    It mentioned that ASEAN and India will strengthen healthcare for his or her folks by rising collaboration in public well being, together with in areas of analysis and growth and public well being emergency.

    They sought to expedite the overview of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it extra user-friendly, easy, and trade-facilitative, and work collectively to forge resilient provide chains, discover cooperation on a single window platform to boost commerce facilitation and integration.

    Vice President @jdhankhar1 with the leaders of ASEAN Member States on the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit at this time.

    Vice President underlined potential of partnership in new and rising areas & reiterated India’s assist to ASEAN centrality within the Indo-Pacific.@VPSecretariat pic.twitter.com/3z0JX57ZfH

    — Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) November 12, 2022

    They additionally mentioned that they might additional improve ASEAN-India cooperation within the house sector together with via the institution of monitoring, knowledge reception and processing stations in Vietnam and Indonesia, and encourage cooperation between ASEAN and Indian house trade gamers, together with in new areas of collaboration.

    The member states of ASEAN and India determined to revive tourism and associated industries which have been severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic via efficient implementation of the ASEAN-India tourism work plans.

    On November 13, Dhankhar will take part within the seventeenth East Asia Summit which includes the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and its eight dialogue companions — India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.

    At the East Asia Summit, leaders will talk about methods to additional strengthen the East Asia Summit mechanism, in addition to issues of regional and worldwide curiosity and issues together with maritime safety, terrorism and non-proliferation.

  • US hails ‘new era’ with ASEAN as summit commits to lift degree of ties

    US President Joe Biden mentioned on Friday a primary summit in Washington with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marked the launch of a “new era” within the relationship between the United States and the 10-nation bloc.

    In a joint 28-point “vision statement” after a two-day assembly, the 2 sides took what analysts referred to as a symbolic step of committing to lift their relationship from a strategic partnership to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in November.

    On Ukraine they reaffirmed “respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity,” wording {that a} regional skilled mentioned went additional than previous ASEAN statements. The assertion didn’t condemn Russia by identify for its Feb. 24 invasion.

    The summit marked the primary time ASEAN leaders gathered as a bunch in Washington and their first assembly hosted by a
    US president since 2016.

    Biden’s administration hopes the trouble will present that the United States stays targeted on the Indo-Pacific and the long-term problem of China, which it views as its essential competitor, regardless of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    He was additionally hoping to steer ASEAN nations to toughen their stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Biden instructed the ASEAN leaders that “a great deal of history of our world in the next 50 years is going to be written in the ASEAN countries, and our relationship with you is the future, in the coming years and decades.”

    Biden referred to as the US-ASEAN partnership “critical” and mentioned: “We’re launching a new era – a new era – in U.S.-ASEAN relations.”

    Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned the United States would stay in Southeast Asia for “generations” and pressured the necessity to preserve freedom of the seas, which the United States says is challenged by China.

    “The United States and ASEAN have shared a vision for this region, and together we will guard against threats to international rules and norms,” Harris mentioned.

    Neither she nor Biden talked about China by identify. The United States has accused China of utilizing coercion towards its neighbors.

    Harris mentioned Washington would proceed to reply with ASEAN to the specter of COVID-19, having already donated greater than 115 million vaccine doses to the area. She mentioned each side wanted to indicate collective ambition on local weather change, speed up the transition to scrub power, and meet infrastructure wants sustainably.

    ASEAN teams Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Myanmar’s chief was excluded from the summit over a coup final yr. U.S. treaty ally the Philippines, in transition after an election, was represented on the assembly by its international minister.

    Biden hosted a summit dinner on the White House on Thursday, and his administration promised $150 million for areas together with infrastructure, safety, pandemic preparedness and clear power.

    CHINA RIVALRY, SHARED CONCERNS

    New U.S. commitments will embrace deployment of a Coast Guard vessel to the area to assist counter what the United States and regional nations have described as China’s unlawful fishing.

    Still, U.S. spending pales compared to that of China, which in November alone pledged $1.5 billion in improvement help for ASEAN over three years to battle COVID and gas financial restoration.

    Biden on Friday introduced the nomination of Yohannes Abraham, chief of workers on his National Security Council, to be ambassador to ASEAN, filling a submit vacant because the begin of Donald Trump’s administration in 2017. Biden is engaged on different initiatives, together with “Build Back Better World” infrastructure funding and an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

    Gregory Poling, a Southeast Asia skilled at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies suppose tank, mentioned the summit was largely about symbolism with economics a lacking element, as IPEF isn’t anticipated to be launched till Biden visits Japan later in May.

    “Everyone seems happy and the diplomatic message of commitment is landing. But … a modest, to put it kindly, $150 million isn’t going to impress anyone,” he mentioned. “That leaves a lot riding on IPEF.”
    Raising the connection to a complete strategic partnership matched related strikes by ASEAN with Australia and China final yr.

    “That’s symbolically important, though it wouldn’t change much in concrete terms,” Poling mentioned.

    He famous the assertion on Ukraine didn’t condemn Russia by identify, however mentioned “the call to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity is an obvious criticism of Russia and would seemingly commit all the ASEAN leaders to never recognize any Russian annexation on Ukraine.”

    ASEAN nations share many US issues about China’s assertiveness, together with its declare of sovereignty over huge swaths of the South China Sea the place a number of have rival claims.

    However they continue to be cautious about siding extra firmly with Washington, given their predominant financial ties with China and restricted US financial incentives. Some, like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, have residual historic ties to Russia.

    ASEAN states have been annoyed by a US delay in detailing plans for financial engagement since Trump stop a regional commerce pact in 2017. Biden introduced the intention to create IPEF at a digital summit with ASEAN leaders in October.

    Analysts and diplomats have mentioned solely two ASEAN nations – Singapore and the Philippines – are anticipated to be among the many preliminary group to enroll in negotiations beneath IPEF, which doesn’t at the moment supply the expanded market entry Asian nations need given Biden’s concern for American jobs.

  • Xi Jinping says China is not going to search dominance over Southeast Asia

    Chinese chief Xi Jinping on Monday mentioned his nation is not going to search dominance over Southeast Asia or bully its smaller neighbours, amid ongoing friction over the South China Sea.
    Xi made the remarks throughout a digital convention with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held to mark the thirtieth anniversary of relations between China and the grouping.
    Two diplomats mentioned ASEAN member Myanmar was not represented at Monday’s assembly after its military-installed authorities refused to permit an ASEAN envoy to satisfy with ousted chief Aung San Suu Kyi and different arrested politicians. Military ruler Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was additionally barred from representing his nation on the final ASEAN summit.
    China has repeatedly sought to beat considerations about its rising energy and affect within the area, notably its declare to just about the complete South China Sea that overlaps the claims of ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.
    “China resolutely opposes hegemonism and power politics, wishes to maintain friendly relations with its neighbours and jointly nurture lasting peace in the region and absolutely will not seek hegemony or even less, bully the small,” Xi mentioned, in keeping with the official Xinhua News Agency.
    Xi’s remarks got here days after Chinese coast guard ships blocked and sprayed a robust stream of water at two Philippine boats carrying provides to troops at a disputed South China Sea shoal and compelled them to show again.
    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted the incident in his remarks on the convention, referring to the shoal by its Philippine identify.“We abhor the recent event in the Ayungin Shoal and view with grave concern other similar developments. This does not speak well of the relations between our nations and our partnership,” Duterte mentioned, in keeping with a press release from his workplace.
    Duterte additionally referred to as on China to respect the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which establishes maritime entitlements and sovereign rights over maritime zones, together with a 2016 Hague arbitration ruling that principally invalidated China’s South China Sea claims. China has refused to recognise the ruling.
    “We must fully utilise these legal tools to ensure that the South China Sea remains a sea of peace, stability and prosperity,” Duterte mentioned.
    On Monday, the Philippines redeployed the 2 provide boats to supply meals to the marines primarily based at Second Thomas Shoal aboard a World War II-era warship which it intentionally ran aground in 1999 in a transfer to fortify the nation’s declare. Chinese vessels have surrounded the shoal and demanded the Philippines tow away the ship, the BRP Sierra Madre.
    At a day by day briefing Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reasserted China’s place rejecting the 2016 arbitration ruling and claiming that its “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are backed by sufficient historical and legal basis”.
    “Any attempt to challenge China’s sovereignty and interests will not succeed,” Zhao instructed reporters. “At present, the situation in relevant waters in the South China Sea are generally calm, and China and the Philippines are maintaining close communication.”
    This picture offered by Malaysia Prime Minister Office present ASEAN leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping, high second from proper, on display throughout a web based assembly of the ASEAN-China particular summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. (AP)
    Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob additionally raised the ocean in his speech on the convention, saying, “As a claimant state, Malaysia firmly views that matters relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law.”
    “Malaysia calls on all countries to remain committed towards maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and trade,” his workplace quoted him as saying. “To this end, all parties should exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that may be deemed provocative, which could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the area.”
    China has sought to strengthen its presence within the waterway, dwelling to essential transport routes, fish shares and undersea oil and fuel deposits, by constructing airstrips and different options on islands created by piling sand and concrete atop coral reefs.
    China’s highly effective navy, coast guard and maritime militia have additionally sought to dam strikes by regional international locations to take advantage of assets inside their unique financial zones, and it strongly objects to operations by the US and different international militaries within the space.
    China and ASEAN have for years been negotiating a code of conduct for dealing with issues within the South China Sea however these talks have made little progress of late.
    China stays a vital marketplace for Southeast Asian international locations in addition to a supply of funding, and ASEAN has sought to keep away from battle with Beijing. China additionally has robust ties with ASEAN members Cambodia and Laos and has avoided criticising Myanmar, the place safety forces are estimated to have killed nearly 1,200 civilians since overthrowing Suu Kyi’s elected authorities in February. The authorities has claimed a decrease dying toll.
    China had wished that each one 10 ASEAN members be part of Monday’s assembly, however Brunei, which presently holds the group’s rotating chairmanship, objected to Myanmar’s presence, in keeping with two diplomats who spoke on situation of anonymity.
    A photograph of the video assembly confirmed simply an empty field with the Myanmar and ASEAN flags.
    In different feedback, Xi mentioned peace was the “greatest common interest” of all sides and China would exert its utmost to keep away from battle.
    “We must be the constructors and protectors of regional peace, insist on dialogue instead of confrontation, partnership and nonalignment, and join hands in dealing with various negative factors that threaten to undermine peace,” Xi mentioned.
    “We must practice true multilateralism and insist on handling international and regional matters through negotiation,” Xi mentioned.

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasised the financial hyperlinks which have made China ASEAN’s greatest buying and selling companion for the previous 12 years.
    Trade has grown from $8.36 billion in 1991 to greater than $685.28 billion final 12 months, Widodo mentioned.
    Over the identical interval, two-way cumulative funding has additionally exceeded $310 billion, making China the fourth largest supply of international direct funding amongst all ASEAN dialogue companions, the Indonesian chief added.
    “Mutual trust can be realised if we all respect international law,” Widodo mentioned.