"We are looking forward to working with ASEAN and expanding the partnership further in new areas while strengthening existing cooperation, particularly in cybersecurity, finance, and maritime security," Jaishankar remarked.
India is one of the ASEAN Dialogue Partners along with Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
On Thursday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held ministerial conferences with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, part of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) during Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship.
Jaishankar remarked that ASEAN is an important pillar of India's Act East Policy, which is India's efforts in expanding strategic cooperation with Southeast Asian nations.
Furthermore, Jaishankar said India supports ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as well as Indonesia's efforts to mainstream the outlook.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, co-chair of the meeting, highlighted that cooperation between the ASEAN and India is developing in new areas.
He noted that activities conducted between the two sides included the ASEAN-India Defense Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in the South China Sea in May.
"We are currently working with India to hold the ASEAN-India Dialogue on Cyber Issues and the maritime partnership seminar," Balakrishnan stated.
Balakrishnan said he looked forward to the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in September this year to result in a joint statement on maritime cooperation.
Moreover, Indonesia proposes a Joint Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Cooperation on Food Security in Times of Crisis for adoption at the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi remarked that the joint leaders' statement on food security is aimed at addressing the growing population of ASEAN and India and realizing sustainable food supply chains.
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Translator: Shofi A, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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