India-ASEAN Foreign Ministers Adopt New Action Plan to Strengthen Strategic Partnership (2026-2030)

New Delhi : On July 10, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margarita, represented the country at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting marked a significant milestone as both parties adopted a new action plan for the period 2026 to 2030 aimed at deepening their multifaceted cooperation.

The new plan covers extensive areas including digital innovation, defense collaboration, healthcare partnerships, and disaster management. Minister Margarita described the meeting as highly productive and successful, emphasizing that the newly agreed framework will strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and ASEAN member states.

2025 is being observed as the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism, and accordingly, the meeting focused on enhancing people-to-people contacts and tourism exchanges. In addition, discussions explored avenues for expanding cooperation in economic sectors, maritime security, and health, reflecting the wide-ranging nature of bilateral ties.

Apart from leading the meeting, Minister Margarita engaged in several bilateral discussions with key ASEAN leaders. She met ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and appreciated his continuous efforts to fortify India-ASEAN relations. In her interactions on social media platform X, she shared her meeting with the Philippine Foreign Minister, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, highlighting the 75 years of diplomatic ties and long-standing friendship between the two nations, and their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Furthermore, the Minister held discussions with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiyono, focusing on shared interests and regional concerns. She also met with foreign ministers from Vietnam (Bui Thanh Son), Timor-Leste (Benedito Freitas), and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. These meetings reinforced India’s commitment to multidimensional bilateral partnerships and expressed gratitude for ASEAN’s solidarity in counter-terrorism efforts alongside India.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement underscoring the deep cultural and civilizational bonds between India and ASEAN. It reiterated that ASEAN forms the cornerstone of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the Indo-Pacific vision, which are crucial for regional stability, security, and development.

This renewed action plan and the strengthened ties signal a promising future for India-ASEAN relations, with cooperation spanning strategic, economic, cultural, and humanitarian domains over the next five years.