CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Marked with several high level visits followed by a high level dialogue framework, this year 2022, embarked as ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of their ASEAN-India Dialogue relations.

Detailed explanation-2: -India’s focused engagement with ASEAN started in 1992 when India launched its Look East policy and became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN. In 1996 India became a dialogue partner and subsequently a summit level partner in 2002.

Detailed explanation-3: -The up-gradation of the relationship into a Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural progression to the ground covered since India became a Sectoral Partner of the ASEAN in 1992, Dialogue Partner in 1996 and Summit Level Partner in 2002.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Detailed explanation-5: -The most recent addition to ASEAN is Cambodia, which joined in 1999. Since its conception with five countries in 1967, ASEAN has doubled in membership.