International relations #1: India - ASEAN relations on this Republic day!
It's a great time to take a Pan look at India's relations with all the ASEAN countries (10 in total).
But before that, Happy Republic Day to the Indian Steemit community. On 26 January, every year since 1947, we celebrate this day when our constitution was enforced. Though it was drafted on 26 November 1949 was postponed 2 months to hold the promise of the Congress session held in 1930 which was on January 26 to demand "purna swaraj" (complete independence).
So it's now amply clear that why 26 January has been chosen as a date to enforce our constitution. But that is not it. All the official buildings are lighted. India Gate bears the flag of India. Republic Day parade is held at 9 AM from Rajpath to Lal Quila (Red Fort).
Major delegates visit as chief guests on this day. For e.g.: Barack Obama was the chief guest for the Republic Day parade of 2016. This year is a special year. ASEAN (Association of South - East Asian Nations) leaders, 10 in total, have been invited to grace the event.
This is a good time to see the budding relations, economic ties with ASEAN countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. All the nations hold a special relationship with India. Let's look at the brief:
All picture source is: ASEAN leaders meeting Indian PM Narendra Modi
India -Philippines relations
Phillippines is part of India's look east and consequently, act east policy. There is a strong South-South connection and don't forget the democratic values and independent judiciary they both share. Hence, it won't be wrong to say that Philippines is our pivot to S-E Asian countries.
India - Indonesia relations
We are historically so interconnected with cultural exchanges. Indonesia is an abode of Hinduism too. And, in the 1950s, Indonesia proud partner of Non-Alignment Movement started by first Indian PM Jawahar Lal Nehru.
India - Vietnam relations
From the days of the meeting of great Veitnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Honourable first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad to the present day, Vietnam is India's top priorities in countering to Chinese aggression in South-China sea.
India - Malaysia
Malaysia is recognized as the country which accurately assimilates the core Asian values. There are sprawling all round cooperation in the fields of Defence, economic cooperation (CECA, FTA et al)
India - Brunei relations
The camaraderie date back to 1984, since then various economic treaties like BIPA, ICT. And, a Bruneian ship named as KDB Darulaman participated in a naval exercise in Andaman under the name of MILAN 2012.
India --- Laos relations
Since 1956 when the relations were established, the cultural exchanges have been at all-time high with the signing of India -- Laos cultural agreement on culture. There are many lines of credit for rural electrification in various projects in Laos such as Pakson -- Jaingxai -- Bangyo transmission line. Good things are here to come.
India - Cambodia relations
If you know any knowledge about Angkor Vat, you already know the relevance of there relation. It is the highest abode of God Vishnu of Hindu mythology. And don't get me started about the Hindu -- Buddhist connect they share. They repeatedly voted in favor of India's bid in UNSC permanent council.
India - Myanmar relations
Most of the N-E countries are connected to Myanmar and after installation of democratic regime Suu Kyi has braved a rough transition and battling tough odds. She and the government of Myanmar are adequately supported in the nation-
building process and reversing the misgivings of the former military ruler.
India - Thailand relations
It is more to Thailand than just food and travel. Starting from 1947 to the important regional economic cooperation of BIMSTEC involving other sovereign states like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India. Thailand has played a crucial role in Mekong Ganga cooperation also.
India - Singapore relations
We share a strong common diaspora. Singapore thrives on tourism. India provides Singapore with major tourism market. Singapore plays a major role in balancing China. India and Singapore held a bilateral naval cooperation on 29 November 2017. There is a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) was recently amended to curb the round-tripping of Indian black money market.
Not only this, India shares a strong bond with ASEAN as an economic union. They all were invited to Republic day ceremony to mark the 25 years of economic cooperation. We need to understand the India proximity to ASEAN due to the 1990 LPG reforms which opened the doors of liberalization, globalization, and privatization. This is the anniversary of ASEAN- India dialogues. Amidst political security cooperation, rising aspect of terror, securities threat to society, their cooperation has deepened.
Resteem, follow, upvote @amank.
Follow the writer with 27,300+ followers, Aman Khanna, who migrated from Quora to Steemit
@amank please make a correction in the first para .the date on which the constitution was adopted is 26 Nov 1949, not 1946.and it was drafted way before.The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
A silly error. Done, thanks
This post has received a 0.32 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @amank.