India and ASEAN Strengthen Ties at Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur

Strengthening ASEAN-India Relations

Kuala Lumpur, July 10: On Thursday, Pabitra Margherita, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, co-chaired the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Kuala Lumpur, where the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026–2030 was officially adopted.

Margherita, who serves as India's country coordinator for ASEAN, led the meeting alongside Theresa P. Lazaro, the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs from the Philippines.

In a social media update, Margherita expressed, “We have adopted a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026–2030 aimed at enhancing our cooperation and fortifying our comprehensive strategic partnership. As we celebrate the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, we also explored ways to strengthen people-to-people connections.”

The ministers discussed enhancing collaboration in crucial areas such as digital transformation, disaster management, defense, maritime cooperation, health, and economic growth.

The Indian Mission to ASEAN noted that the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to bolstering the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and addressed regional and international issues of shared interest.

Margherita arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening at the invitation of Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN, to attend this significant meeting.

In the following two days, he is scheduled to participate in the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum, as part of the larger 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and associated events.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicated that this visit aims to strengthen India’s engagement with ASEAN, promote its Act East Policy, and advance its vision for the Indo-Pacific.

“This visit will renew India’s strong involvement with the ASEAN-centered regional framework, emphasize our commitment to ASEAN unity and centrality, and bolster our support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP),” the MEA stated prior to the minister's departure.

Margherita is also anticipated to engage in bilateral discussions with counterparts from other participating nations during the ASEAN-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur.

India and ASEAN share profound civilizational connections, with ASEAN being a crucial component of India’s regional diplomacy and strategic initiatives.