ASEAN, India set up cooperation bodies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) sought closer ties yesterday with its new partner India
\nby forming a number of commissions.<\/p>\n
Indian Foreign Minister Inder Kumar Gujral said after a dialog
\nwith ASEAN that both parties have agreed to set up various
\ncommissions to enhance their relations on tourism, science and
\ntechnology and trade.<\/p>\n
\"Ultimately, the private sector is the primary force. That's
\nwhy we will encourage our various institutions and individuals
\nwho are participating in trade, commerce, technology and
\nscience,\" Gujral told journalists.<\/p>\n
Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Jayakumar,
\nrepresenting ASEAN, said in his opening statement at the dialog
\nsession that closer relations with India will benefit both
\nparties.<\/p>\n
\"You can provide ASEAN with vital links to the Indian Ocean.
\nASEAN, on the other hand, can be India's springboard into the
\nAsia Pacific,\" Jayakumar said.<\/p>\n
Jayakumar, of Indian descent, said India will be increasingly
\nimportant for ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region, because India
\ntoday stands as a strong economic power with a gross national
\nproduct of more than US$280 billion.<\/p>\n
\"It would be hard to imagine an Asia-Pacific century without
\nIndia's participation,\" Jayakumar said.<\/p>\n
He noted that India, which traditionally had been looking to
\nthe West, is now looking at Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific
\nfor trade and investment opportunities.<\/p>\n
In trade alone, from 1991 to 1995, Indian exports to ASEAN
\nnations grew annually at a rate of 40 percent, with imports at a
\nrate of 23 percent.<\/p>\n
During the same period, India's exports to the United States
\ngrew by 28 percent; to Japan, by 18 percent; and to the European
\nUnion, by 24 percent. Imports from the United States grew by 15
\npercent; from Japan, by 17 percent; and from European Union, by
\n13 percent.<\/p>\n
Jayakumar predicted that there will be new opportunities for
\ncloser cooperation in trade and investment as India's economic
\nreforms bear fruit and ASEAN grows in membership.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN investment could add impetus to India's economic
\nreforms ... An expanded ASEAN will also be an important market
\nand investment location for Indian companies,\" Jayakumar said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN -- currently grouping Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- aims to cover
\nCambodia, Myanmar and Laos as full members by the end of the
\ncentury.<\/p>\n
In addition, ASEAN foreign ministers have agreed to accelerate
\nthe implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement by the
\nyear 2000.<\/p>\n
Aside from economic matters, ASEAN and India also discussed
\npolitical and security issues. They underscored the importance of
\npromoting and preserving regional stability.<\/p>\n
However, they did not touch on contentious security issues,
\nsuch as a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which India is reluctant
\nto participate in.<\/p>\n
\"It was not discussed anywhere,\" Gujral said when asked about
\nthe treaty. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-india-set-up-cooperation-bodies-1447893297",
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