21st ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting

21st ASEAN india som meet

Question: Where did the 21st ASEAN-India Senior Officials meeting took place?
(a) Shanghai
(b) Bali
(c) New Delhi
(d) Bangkok
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • The 21st ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) was held from 11th -12th April, 2019, at New Delhi.
  • India congratulated Thailand on assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2019 and welcomed its role as Country Coordinator of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership for the period 2018-2021.

Key Highlights:

  • The ASEAN-India SOM reviewed the ASEAN-India strategic partnership and its future direction. They made their assessment on the progress of cooperation under all three pillars – political-security, economic and socio-cultural.
  • The SOM Leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of interest to ASEAN and India. They agreed to deepen Maritime Cooperation as decided at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2018.
  • In this context, they proposed to undertake a variety of measures, including enhanced cooperation in the sub-sector of Blue Economy.
  • The Meeting desired to impart impetus to ASEAN-India Connectivity, in all its forms. It also welcomed the commissioning of the ERIA Study on the Trilateral Highway and its extension to Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam as well as the proposal on formation of Digital Villages in the ASEAN countries, under digital connectivity.
  • The Meeting decided to impart urgency to Cooperation in Renewable Energy and hold an ASEAN-India Conference on Renewable Energy in 2019. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) would be the co-partners for this project.
  • The ASEAN-India partnership is being implemented through the Plan of Action (2016-20) to implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity.

Links:
https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/31216/21st_ASEANIndia_Senior_Officials_Meeting
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-asean-vow-to-step-up-ties-in-maritime-sector-boost-connectivity/articleshow/68861447.cms