India, ASEAN collaboration can be crucial in tackling contemporary issues: EAM Jaishankar

India and ASEAN collaboration crucial for addressing contemporary issues, ensuring food and health security, and political challenges in shared region.

India and ASEAN are major demographies and their collaboration can be crucial in tackling contemporary issues, ensuring food and health security and addressing political challenges in the shared region like Myanmar, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday (November 8, 2024).

Mr. Jaishankar's remarks came as he addressed the Eighth Roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think-Tanks – Navigating a World in Transition: Agenda for ASEAN-India Cooperation.

"India and ASEAN are major demographies whose emerging demands can not only support each other but become larger productive forces in the international economy," Mr. Jaishankar, who is here on a day-long visit, said.

Together, ASEAN and India account for more than a quarter of the world's population, he said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

"Our consumer demands and lifestyle choices are themselves major economic drivers. They will also shape the scale of services and connectivity as we promote trade, tourism, mobility and education. The magnitude of our endeavours has a resonance that is far beyond the immediate domain," he said.

"Collaboration can also be crucial in addressing contemporary challenges. In an era of extreme climate events, ensuring food security is a major concern. Similarly, with the experience of global pandemics, preparing for health security is no less vital," he added.