(AseanAll)  — ASEAN and India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 25th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (AISOM), held on 12 March 2025 in Manila, Philippines. 

India reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture. India also reaffirmed the high priority it places on its relationship with ASEAN as part of its Act East Policy (AEP).

Both sides reviewed the ASEAN-India cooperation over the past year and noted the commendable progress which has been achieved in the final year of the implementation of the 2021-2025 ASEAN-India Plan of Action (POA) and its Annex. ASEAN and India continued to enhance cooperation under the CSP, with a focus placed on key areas such as trade and investment; digital integration; agriculture and food security; renewable energy; disaster management, climate change adaption and mitigation; environment; culture; tourism; connectivity; science, technology and innovation; and people-to-people exchange. 

The meeting discussed deliverables of ASEAN-India cooperation for 2025 and preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting in July, including the adoption of the new ASEAN-India POA for 2026-2030 and ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Sustainable Tourism. The meeting also noted India’s initiatives for enhancing cooperation in a number of areas, including defence, maritime, tourism and health sectors.

The Senior Officials exchanged views on regional and international developments of common interest and concern, underscoring the continued call for full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza; full implementation of Five-Point Consensus; and the importance of strengthened cooperation in addressing security challenges.

The meeting was co-chaired by Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs (UBRAA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and ASEAN SOM Leader of the Philippines, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, and Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and SOM Leader of India, Jaideep Mazumdar, and attended by Senior Officials from ASEAN Member States or their representatives and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.