The 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (AISOM) took place in Manila on Wednesday, co-chaired by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Government of India, and H.E. MA. Theresa P. Lazaro, Philippine SOM Leader from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Philippines currently serves as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. Senior officials from all ASEAN Member States, Timor Leste as an Observer, and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN were in attendance.
The meeting reviewed the progress on key decisions from recent ASEAN-India Summits and the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (PMC+1), focusing on the three main pillars of ASEAN-India engagement: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. Officials praised the successful implementation of the 10-Point Proposal presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Lao PDR in 2024. Notably, one of the key initiatives was the proposal to designate 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.
Secretary (East) highlighted ASEAN’s role as a cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy and its broader vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Discussions centered around key areas such as strengthening tourism cooperation, accelerating the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), improving digital and maritime connectivity, and fostering partnerships in health, innovation, and development. Regional and global issues of common concern were also discussed.
Preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit and ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, set to take place later this year in Malaysia, were also addressed. ASEAN representatives expressed their appreciation for India’s consistent support to ASEAN and its contributions to ASEAN-led frameworks in the region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Secretary Mazumdar met with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, to discuss the outcomes of AISOM and explore ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between India and the Philippines. Secretary Mazumdar also expressed gratitude to Secretary Manalo for accepting the invitation to participate in the 10th Raisina Dialogue, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from March 17-19.
