Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, along with ASEAN secretary-general Le Luong Minh and the Foreign Ministry'€™s director general for ASEAN affairs, I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, attended the inauguration, during which they highlighted the importance and vitality of India'€™s partnership with the region.

'€œASEAN lies in the core of India'€™s foreign policy. We aim to play a more proactive role in the region, strengthening collaboration on trade, investment, security and connectivity,'€ Sushma said at the inauguration ceremony on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Le Luong Minh added that since 1992, India has forged one of the most dynamic and strongest relationships with ASEAN, in both sociocultural and economic terms, and praised the continual efforts to maintain that relationship.

'€œSetting up this mission is a symbol for the firmer commitment in strengthening our partnerships,'€ Le said.

Adding to that, Agung Wesaka Puja commented that while the relationship between ASEAN and India had been strengthening significantly in the past few years, much more still needed to be explored, as great potential remained.

The mission previously held a soft opening prior to the official inauguration on April 13. (ebf)(++++)

Popular

Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China

Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying

Kertajati’s hard lesson