HYDERABAD (India), Feb 13 – A total of 175 youth leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries and India convened here on Sunday for the 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit with the theme “Strengthening ASEAN-India Partnership in the Indo-Pacific.”
India’s Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region, G. Kishan Reddy, in his opening remarks said the summit that will wrap up on Thursday could further explore cooperation between the two sides particularly in emerging areas.
He said these include digital technology and sustainability with the focus on economic relations, digital transformation, financial inclusion, climate change, lifestyle and environment, in line with the recently approved India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022.
“The work plan includes capacity building, and technology sharing in the field of information and communication technologies, such as cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G technologies, artificial intelligence and smart cities,” he said during the opening ceremony of the 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit, Sunday night.
He noted that the summit provided a platform for delegates from various backgrounds including politics, media, think tanks, education, and science and technology, to explore new initiatives in enhancing ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Malaysian delegate, Yanitha Meena Louis told Bernama that the summit is an important platform to engage youth leaders in strengthening ASEAN-India multi-faceted relationships particularly in improving connectivity and the approach to the Indo-Pacific.
“How we can enhance cooperation in all the strategic anxieties that are currently happening in this world, in the post-pandemic and we see the Sino-US rivalry as well,” she said.
The researcher at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia opined that the rise of the Indo-Pacific order has really necessitated for India and ASEAN to work closely together within their approaches namely the India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Raoul Danniel Abellar Manuel from the Philippines hoped to get more insights from the ASEAN and Indian counterparts as to how they could solve the various problems confronting the youth in their respective countries.
“We the Philippines delegation wish to share the various experiences of the Filipino youth who have been active, both inside and outside government, to ensure that the youth are heard and given spaces to participate in nation building and the civic affairs,” said Maneul who is also the member of the Philippine’s House of Representatives.
Organised by the Indian government in collaboration with the India Foundation and the ASEAN Foundation, the opening ceremony of the summit was also attended by 16 media personnel from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
There are here in conjunction with the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme 2023 from Feb 9 to 15.
