Why is it in news?

The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit of January 25 is likely to focus on maritime security for the region.

Details

• The ambassador of Thailand Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdi said that ASEAN expects India to highlight maritime security during the summit, even as the Ministry of External Affairs said that discussion on a “very important” MoU on maritime cooperation is ongoing alongside plans for enhancement of air connectivity
• Thailand will be the coordinating country in charge of ASEAN-India ties from the middle of the year.
• The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit of 25 January is said that it would be ‘unprecedented’ and ‘landmark’ and it is also said that all the ten heads of states of the ASEAN countries will be hosted as Guests of Honour for the Republic Day parade.
• The ASEAN leaders will also hold bilateral discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

About ASEAN

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian states which promotes Pan-Asianism and intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-culturalintegration amongst its members and Asian states.
• Since its formation on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, the organisation's membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
• Its principal aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, and sociocultural evolution among its members, alongside the protection of regional stability and the provision of a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully.
• ASEAN is an official United Nations Observer, as well as an active global partner. Communication by members across nations takes place in English.

Source

The Hindu