Jaishankar focusses on furthering partnership with ASEAN nations in Indo-Pacific region

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday emphasised on furthering the ASEAN-India strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region at the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting held here.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. "Just finished the #ASEAN-India FM Meeting. Had substantive discussions on furthering ASEAN-India strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific with a special emphasis on sustainability, connectivity & maritime cooperation," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting in the Thai capital.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping of 10 Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia. The ASEAN nations comprise Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.