Delhi Declaration was on January 26, 2018 issued at the conclusion of the two-day ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit organised in New Delhi to mark the 25th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Dialogue Relations under the theme of "Shared Values, Common Destiny".
With an aim to further trade ties, India and ASEAN agreed to target a swift conclusion to the comprehensive and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2018.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhence physical and digital connectivity in line with the master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020 by availing the $1-billion line of credit announced by India.
India and ASEAN will work towards encouraging early completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project and extend this trilateral highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.
Both sides emphasised the need to deepen cooperation in the area of aviation under the ASEAN-India Aviation Cooperation Framework adopted at the 14th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Manila, on November 6, 2008. It was agreed to establish closer ASEAN-India air links connectivity between 10-nation grouping ASEAn and India.
There were also agreements on cooperation for conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and address threats to these resources including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, loss of coastal ecosystems and the adverse impacts of pollution, ocean acidification, and marine debris.
India and ASEAN countries will continue to collaboratein peaceful exploitation of outer space, through the implementation of the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation Progamme, including launching of satellites for sustainable exploitation of ground, sea, atmospheric and digital resources for equitable development of the region.
Focusing on the presence of the Islamic state and other forms of radicalism in the region, a joint statement, the Delhi Declaration supported a common approach to counter terrorism. Out of all the countries of ASEAN region philippines had the most serious threat form the Islamic state in the last few years.
India, Cambodia ink 4 pacts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Combodian counterpart Samdich Hun Sen on January 27, 2018 held talks to boost ties in key areas of defence, security and counter-terrorism, including blocking sources of terrorism financing and dismantling terrorism bases.
After the talks between their Prime Ministers, the two countries also inked four pacts, including the one to improve cooperation in the prevention and investigatin of crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters, besides a line of credit from india to finance Cambodia's Stung Sva Hab water resources development project for $36.92 million.
On economic front, two leaders agreed on an early signing of a bilateral investment treaty between the two countries. They noted with satisfaction the progress in regional connectivity efforts such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and agreed to explore the possibility of extending the highway further to Cambodia and beyond.
India, Vietnam release first ever commemorative stamps
India and Vietnam on January 25, 2018 released frist ever set of commemorative postage stamps to mark the long term friendly bilateral relationships between the two countries. The two set of stamps released carry picture of Sanchi Stupa and Thien Mu Pagoda.
Sushma Swaraj Inaugurates Bharat-ASEAN Maitri Park in Delhi
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on January 24, 2018 inaugurated the Bharat-ASEAN Maitri Park in New Delhi. ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh also attended the event.
