India External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted maritime cooperation, regional resilience and deeper engagement with ASEAN during meetings in Manila.
India reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India in Manila, where External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting alongside Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.
During the conference, Dr Jaishankar thanked the Philippines for its role as the country coordinator for the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and endorsed the meeting’s theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together”, as reflecting the shared commitment to peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific.
He highlighted growing global challenges, including disruptions to supply chains, energy, food and health security, as well as maritime cooperation, stressing that deeper international cooperation was needed to build resilience and diversify partnerships. Jaishankar also noted that 2026 had been designated the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, describing it as an opportunity to advance regional security and stability.
The minister also underscored the broad ASEAN-India agenda, which spans trade and investment, mobility and talent, technology, digital innovation and artificial intelligence, sustainability, and connectivity. He reiterated that ASEAN centrality remained a key principle of India’s Indo-Pacific approach.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Dr Jaishankar held talks with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, saying he appreciated their exchange of views on regional and global developments.
He also met ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn to discuss the India-ASEAN Plan of Action for 2026-2030 and thanked the ASEAN Secretariat for its continued support in advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Their discussions covered cooperation in political, economic, security and cultural areas.
Source: High Commission of India in Singapore
