Round Table on “ASEAN – India: Integration and Development”

This conference based on idea of Indian Prime Minister from his speech at the 7^th Summit Conference ASEAN – India in 2009 which is to create a round table conference for connecting scholars. The ultimate goal of this conference is to consult policies for Indian government and ASEAN nations on cooperation between two sides. The first round table was held in August 2012 at New Delhi (India) and the second was held in September 2013 in Vientiane (Laos).

In the opening speech to welcome the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said: In recent years, the relation of ASEAN – India has developed into a new higher level, from talks in separate fields to full talking partnership and strategic partnership in 2012 that showed positive developments for two sides to build a stronger strategic partnership in 21^st Century and ASEAN always be ready for any objective to successfully develop the relation between ASEAN and India.

At the Conference, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj,External Affairs Minister of India, showed the desire of having more discussions from representatives on matters related to integration between ASEAN and India and highly appreciated the meaning of the Conference in promoting the network of experts to implement “5 T” goal of Indian government, they are: Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and Technology, especially in the context of India has just successfully completed the 16^th election of House of Commons in May 2014.      

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences has warmly welcomed representatives and emphasized the special meaning of the Conference, especially in the context of ASEAN is coming to next developing stage under the umbrella goal of forming ASEAN community in 2015 and activities based on ASEAN Charter. With the hosting role for this Conference, President of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences expected the Conference will be a lively forum for scholars to discuss their opinions on issues related to boost integration and development of ASEAN and India in different fields such as culture, politic, economic and society, ect.

With the above topics, the Conference is divided into four working sessions focused on issues such as: Integration and economic cooperation; Physical connections and Soft Infrastructure; Investing cooperation and Orientation in the upcoming period. Each working session has many ideas and opinions to seek the share viewpoints on promoting integration and growth for nations in ASEAN and India, to seek the possibility of strategic cooperation in many significant fields such as economic, development, cultural and social exchange for the purpose of sustainable development, comprehensive cooperation and development for human.

                                   Pham Vinh Ha