Government of India

This Plan of Action implements the goals and objectives of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity on 30 November 2004 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and the Vision Statement of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, adopted by the Leaders of ASEAN and India on 20 December 2012 in New Delhi, India. It will continue to pursue the goals set forth in the Partnership for the next five years (2016-2020), building upon the encouraging achievements made in the implementation of the previous Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2010-2015).

This Plan of Action lays out priorities and measures to be undertaken by both sides to further deepen and enhance their political-security, economic and socio-cultural ties as well as to realise the full potential of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership in all areas of common interests.

Through the implementation of this Plan of Action, ASEAN and India will also work towards supporting the ASEAN Community building and integration process, including the ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision, for a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and a truly people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based ASEAN, narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN Connectivity. Both sides will also further promote cooperation in addressing common and emerging challenges and enhance coordination in other international fora on issues of common concern to contribute to overall peace, stability and prosperity.

ASEAN and India hereby endeavour to pursue cooperation in conformity with their obligations under international law and in accordance with their respective domestic laws, regulations and policies.

1. Political and Security Cooperation

1.1. Political Cooperation

1.1.1. Encourage further constructive dialogue and cooperation activities through the existing regional mechanisms to promote peace and security in the region;

1.1.2. Deepen ASEAN-India consultations and cooperation through the ASEAN-led fora, such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with India (PMC+1), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting and ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee;

1.1.3. Work closely to strengthen the EAS, with ASEAN as the driving force, as a leaders-led form for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region;

1.1.4. Continue to support ASEAN Centrality in the regional architecture, as well as further promote shared values and norms, including those enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the EAS Declaration on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations (Bali Principles), towards the development of a more rules-based and norms-based regional architecture as well as to contribute towards maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond;

1.1.5. Further promote and substantiate comprehensively the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership;

1.1.6. Strengthen engagement and dialogue between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the Ambassador of the Republic of India to ASEAN;

1.1.7.Continue to promote the Delhi Dialogue as a complementary platform to discuss ways to intensify and broaden India's engagement with ASEAN;

1.1.8. Maximise the utilization of the ASEAN-India Centre as a resource centre for ASEAN Member States and India to strengthen the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership across all pillars of cooperation;

1.1.9. Explore cooperation to support ASEAN's efforts in peace and reconciliation in the region through relevant ASEAN mechanisms and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR);

1.1.10.Promote collaboration and coordination in other multilateral frameworks and fora, including the United Nations and other bodies within the UN System, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), on issues of common interest and concern and to strengthen the multilateral system and, where appropriate, carry out consultations between ASEAN and India at the margins of these fora;

1.1.11. Support the implementation of the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations (Bali Concord III) and its Plan of Action (2013-2017);

1.2. Security Cooperation

1.2.1. Encourage India to actively participate and co-chair joint exercises and activities organised by the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus);

1.2.2. Support the implementation of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANFWZ) Treaty as an effective instrument towards the promotion of international peace and security;

1.2.3.Further explore strengthening cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and technology through capacity building and sharing of experience and best practices in nuclear safety and nuclear security in accordance with our respective International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards obligations;

1.2.4. Promote cooperation in addressing humanitarian aspects of landmines and other explosive remnants of war issues in the region through the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC), including technical and financial support, where appropriate, to the Centre;

1.2.5. Continue to promote the ADMM-Plus as a useful platform for dialogue and security cooperation, in particular for forging practical cooperation to address the security challenges facing the region;

1.2.6.Enhance cooperation in the framework of the ARF to promote confidence building and preventive diplomacy, particularly on the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action to implement the ARF Vision Statement in support of strengthening the ARF, and support ASEAN's central role in the ARF;

1.3. Human Rights and Good Governance

1.3.1. Cooperate and provide support in enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in ASEAN through regional dialogue, education and awareness raising activities, capacity-building initiatives as well exchanges of best practices and information among ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders. This includes support for the promotion and dissemination of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the adoption of the AHRD, relevant ASEAN Declarations and instruments, international instruments pertaining to human rights to which all ASEAN Member States are parties, as well as support for the work and mandate of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR);

1.3.2. Promote capacity building for and support ASEAN's efforts in strengthening the democracy, good governance, rule of law, and judiciary systems, through sharing of experiences and best practices;

1.3.3. Strengthen cooperation against corruption and promote the universalisation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;

1.3.4. Promote useful dialogue between ASEAN and India through exchanges amongst officials, think-tanks and relevant stakeholders with the aim to promote human rights, strengthen the rule of law and promote good governance;

1.4.Promotion of Moderation

1.4.1. Support the implementation of the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates to promote peace, security, upholding rule of law, sustainable and inclusive development, equitable growth and social harmony;

1.4.2. Encourage cooperation on interfaith and inter-civilisation dialogues and further contribute internationally and regionally to the promotion of tolerance and understanding through initiatives, including the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) and promoting moderation as a core value to counter extremism and acts of violence in all aspects;

1.5. Maritime Cooperation

1.5.1. Promote maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce, the exercise of self-restraint, the non-use of force or the threat to use force, and the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO);

1.5.2. Promote maritime cooperation, including maritime security, counter piracy and search and rescue cooperation, through appropriate ASEAN mechanisms, and ASEAN-led fora, such as the ASEAN-India framework, EAS, ARF, ADMM-Plus, ASEAN Maritime Forum and its Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum and where appropriate, promote technical cooperation, capacity building, exchange of experience and sharing of knowledge and expertise;

1.6. Transnational Crime and Counter-Terrorism

1.6.1. Encourage cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes such as terrorism and financing of terrorism, trafficking in person, illicit drug trafficking, people smuggling, money laundering, arms smuggling, sea piracy, cybercrime, and international economic crimes utilising existing regional and international institutions and agreements;

1.6.2. Explore new possible areas of cooperation such as combatting wildlife trafficking, the trafficking of hazardous substances, including chemicals, wastes, and radioactive and nuclear materials, in accordance with existing regional and international institutions and agreements;

1.6.3. Continue to hold regular Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) + India Consultations to further strengthen cooperation in combatting transnational crimes;

1.6.4. Deepen cooperation in combating international terrorism, including under the framework of the "ASEAN-India Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism", signed in Bali, Indonesia on 8 October 2003, and under the ARF Work Plan on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime adopted at the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum in Phuket, Thailand on 23 July 2009;

1.6.5. Take into consideration the importance of holding the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD) + India Consultations on a regular basis;

2.Economic Cooperation

2.1. Trade and Investment

2.1.1. Work towards early entry into force of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements to facilitate further economic integration between ASEAN and India;

2.1.2. Undertake a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and monitor problems and obstacles relevant to both tariff and non-tariff measures in order to promote and increase the FTA utilisation;

2.1.3. Enhance cooperation on capacity building and economic development to support the ASEAN efforts in enhancing regional integration, ASEAN Community building, and narrowing development gap among ASEAN Member States;

2.1.4. Undertake capacity building programmes, workshops and seminars that support ASEAN-India FTA, Rules of Origin (ROO), services liberalization, regulatory aspects of E-Commerce, elimination of non-tariff barriers, Competition Policy and Intellectual Property Rights, SMEs cooperation and promotion;

2.1.5. Promote private sector engagement and encourage business-to-business relations, including through the re-activation of the ASEAN-India Business Council and the ASEAN-India Business Summit in order to strengthen business networks and opportunities;

2.1.6. Promote and facilitate flows of foreign direct investment into ASEAN countries and India through cooperation among investment promotion agencies, linkages between investors and local entrepreneurs, and dissemination of information on investment rules, regulations and policies of general application that pertain or affect investments;

2.1.7. Enhance coordination in areas of mutual interest at multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), including but not limited to, securing a full and balanced implementation of all elements of the Bali Package as well as formulating a Post-Bali Work Programme, with the aim of concluding the remaining Doha Development Agenda issues;

2.1.8. Strengthen coordination and cooperation on G-20 related matters, including support for the continued participation of the ASEAN Chair in future G-20 Summits, and, where appropriate, its related Meetings;

2.1.9. Pursue a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement that will cover trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and other issues;

2.2. Finance

2.2.1. Explore strengthening cooperation to improve on financial infrastructure development and capital market development with view to promoting sustainable growth;

2.2.2. Support regional financial development and integration through initiatives that promote greater financial inclusion and stronger financial stability;

2.2.3. Support greater financial inclusion towards improving access to financial services and products for individuals and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to promote stable and sustainable growth, including areas such as capacity building and technical assistance in financial literacy, effective intermediary and distribution channels, public finance facilities, and consumer protection;

2.2.4. Foster collaboration to strengthen regional financial stability and contribute to reforming the global economic and financial architecture to safeguard the regional and global economies from future crises;

2.3. Energy

2.3.1. Support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025;

2.3.2. Further promote the ASEAN-India New and Renewable Energy initiative;

2.3.3. Initiate meetings between ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy (SOME) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India to advance energy cooperation;

2.3.4. Promote cooperation to pursue energy security and to minimise environmental impacts through research, capacity building, development, production and use of renewable and alternative energy sources;

2.3.5. Increase private sector engagement cooperation in the development and utilization of renewable and alternative energy sources;

2.3.6. Promote clean energy technologies and energy efficient technologies through institutional capacity building;

2.3.7. Promote the facilitation of trade and investment in the energy sector, including energy infrastructure and oil and natural gas related projects, pursue an integrated and coordinated development programme to establish compatibility of electricity grids, and work towards liberalization of power trade among ASEAN Member States and India;

2.3.8. Develop and strengthen institutional linkages between ASEAN and India, including the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), to cooperate on R&D into energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, energy security, policy and planning, and to establish programmes of cooperation;

2.3.9. Support the rural household electrification programmes of ASEAN Member States, including through solar, bio mass, bio gas, micro hydro and off-grid electrification to narrow development gaps in ASEAN;

2.4. Transport

2.4.1. Continue to support the implementation of the Brunei Action Plan (ASEAN Strategic Transport Plan) 2011-2015 and its successor document for the post-2015 period;

2.4.2. Support and explore means to improve ASEAN-India trade and tourism-related transport connectivity;

2.4.3. Forge closer cooperation to enhance transportation infrastructure, networks and operations, including air, maritime, road, rail, and multi-modal transport in accordance with the ASEAN Leaders Statement on ASEAN Connectivity adopted at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand on 24 October 2009;

2.4.4. Deepen cooperation in the area of aviation under the ASEAN-India Aviation Cooperation Framework adopted at the 14th ASEAN Transport Ministers' Meeting in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines on 6 November 2008, including the convening of air services consultations by the ASEAN-India Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements to work towards concluding an Air Transport Agreement between ASEAN and India based on 'open skies' principles covering both air freight and passenger services;

2.5. Food, Agriculture and Forestry

2.5.1. Promote networking and cooperation between government authorities concerned, together with agriculture and food experts, laboratories, and agriculture and food-related academic institutions, farmers including farmers' organisations and communities, and traders of ASEAN and India;

2.5.2. Support and enhance cooperation in implementing the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework, the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) 2015-2020;

2.5.3. Promote responsible fishing practices and to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, particularly in order to sustain fisheries resources, ensure food security, eradicate poverty and to optimize the benefit of to the people and economies in the region;

2.5.4. Promote investment, capacity building, sharing of information, experience and best practices, research and development, agricultural technology, management and innovation in the food agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors;

2.5.5. Explore cooperation on combatting illegal logging and its associated trade;

2.5.6. Explore the possibility for India to support ASEAN on the implementation of the "ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Framework on Climate Change: Agriculture, and Forestry towards Food Security (AFCC)”;

2.5.7. Explore the possibility to exchange knowledge and experience on sustainable land, forest and coastal management practices;

2.5.8. Develop human resources in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sub-sectors by providing opportunities for ASEAN young generation to learn management and conservation of natural resources and build capacity in agriculture, forestry and fisheries information system and space technology (Remote Sensing and GIS);

2.5.9. Develop ASEAN human resources in the area of agriculture by providing opportunities for ASEAN young farmers to learn from India's experiences and best practices on techniques, management and farm working practices through training and extension;

2.6. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

2.6.1. Enhance cooperation on Information and communication technology (ICT) such as sharing of best practices in policy, regulation and technological development, including through existing high level meeting between ASEAN and India on ICT;

2.6.2. Promote and facilitate ASEAN-India ICT workshops and training for ICT capacity building, in areas such as software development, e-governance, e-commerce, satellite and spectrum technology, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and the use of ICT to mitigate impacts of climate change;

2.6.3. Conduct consultations between governments, private sector and industry groups to facilitate investments in ICT, focusing on broadband connectivity and broadband applications in ASEAN;

2.6.4. Strengthen cooperation and capacity building in information security and cyber-security, cyber laws and regulations, joint research and development activities in the area of interactive digital media;

2.6.5. Provide assistance in information technology curriculum development and IT teacher trainings to narrow development gaps in ASEAN;

2.7. Tourism

2.7.1. Support continued consultations between ASEAN and India to promote tourism cooperation, such as in the areas of joint marketing and promotion, seminars, workshops, meetings, sharing tourism best practices and resources including human resource development, practicing sustainable and responsible tourism, tourism information exchange, crisis communications, tourism investment, joint promotion in the areas of niche markets and promotion of tourism standards activities;

2.7.2. Encourage the private sector from ASEAN and India to increasingly participate in the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), ASEAN Travex, professional international travel marts held in ASEAN Member States and India in order to create more opportunities for joint promotion of integrated tourism markets and joint investment;

2.7.3. Strengthen ASEAN-India capacity building programme in the tourism sector, including language courses for tourism stakeholders;

2.8. Mining and Natural Resources Management

2.8.1. Facilitate and enhance trade and investments through the sharing of information and experiences, capacity building especially on human resources, and promoting a platform for dialogue in which the private sector can more effectively and efficiently collaborate in mutually beneficial mining cooperation;

2.8.2. Develop institutional and human capacity building in the geological and mineral sector to address the current needs and future demands of the minerals industry and economy in ASEAN Member States and India;

2.8.3. Promote scientific and technological research and development of minerals and geosciences for development of value added products for mutual benefits;

2.9. Science, Technology and Innovation

2.9.1. Encourage and promote cooperation in science, technology and innovation, including through joint research activity, and development on cross-sectoral areas such as health, communicable and emerging infectious diseases, environmental management, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, agricultural technologies, alternative energy, biodiversity, food processing, advanced materials for development of value-added products, and space technology and applications;

2.9.2. Encourage and promote cooperation in biotechnology including through capacity building and joint research and development for mutual benefit;

2.9.3. Undertake activities and develop programmes/projects under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund;

3. Socio-Cultural Cooperation

3.1. Disaster Management and Emergency Response

3.1.1.Strengthen cooperation to support the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and the work of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) beyond 2015;

3.1.2. Encourage cooperation with India on humanitarian assistance and disaster management under the ASEAN-India framework, particularly on sharing of experiences and best practices;

3.1.3. Encourage regular consultations between the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and India to facilitate synergy among multilateral cooperation mechanisms on disaster management;

3.2. Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity

3.2.1. Promote the exchange of knowledge and experience on environmental management and climate change through the exchange of experts, the conduct of joint research activities, and the provision of training courses;

3.2.2. Explore cooperation to support the implementation of the ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response to Climate Change;

3.2.3. Promote the exchange of experience and knowledge on the implementation of mitigation actions, adaptation and Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD-plus) within the framework of ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response to Climate Change;

3.2.4. Undertake programmes/projects to strengthen cooperation in both research on environmental and biodiversity management and climate change, as well as the exchange of knowledge regarding the development of adaptation and mitigation measures; provide technical and financial assistance and capacity building for ASEAN Member States to address environmental management and climate change, including, where applicable, through the ASEAN-India Green Fund;

3.2.5. Strengthen regional cooperation on biodiversity conservation and management, through exchange of knowledge and capacity building programs to address the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation, including supporting the work of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity;

3.2.6. Support efforts to control illegal transboundary trade in wild fauna and flora, through the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and through national initatives in support to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);

3.2.7. Explore cooperation and support for the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the development of domestic legislative, administrative, or policy measures on access and benefit-sharing;

3.2.8. Undertake programmes/projects to exchange and share experiences among ASEAN Member States and India on issues of access and benefit sharing including in the context of the Nagoya Protocol, and to identify future areas of co-operation;

3.2.9. Explore cooperation to support the implementation of the decisions of the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including on Resource Mobilisation and Financial Mechanisms;

3.2.10. Promote networking and cooperation between relevant stakeholders to build a clean and green ASEAN Community through sustainable use of natural resources and protection of the environment;

3.2.11. Exchange experiences and best practices on green cities development for a clean and green ASEAN, while holistically taking into account the impact on the environment, economy, and social equity;

3.2.12.Promote cooperation to provide the peoples of ASEAN access to clean water, clean air, basic healthcare, and other social services so that they lead a healthy and productive lives and thereby contribute to ASEAN and the global community;

3.3. Health and Pandemic Preparedness and Response

3.3.1. Work together to enhance ASEAN's preparedness and capacity in responding to communicable and emerging infectious diseases including pandemics and other potential public health and biological threats. Preparedness planning, prevention efforts and capacity building would include, among others, the strengthening of areas on surveillance, laboratory networking, human resource capacities and information networking;

3.3.2.Work towards developing affordable quality medicines and traditional medicines that is accessible to the people, and explore the development of a framework for cooperation in these areas as appropriate;

3.3.3. Promote sharing of information and exchange of experts in the field of public health, medicine, health education and promotion;

3.4.Education, Youth, Culture and People-to-People Exchange

3.4.1. Focus on greater cooperation in educational exchanges and sharing of knowledge, focusing on women and children;

3.4.2. Promote greater awareness and appreciation of both ASEAN and India through the implementation of educational and vocational training exchanges and people-to-people activities, especially among the youth;

3.4.3. Support ASEAN capacity building through Indian scholarship programmes, the exchange of teachers and lecturers, joint research and university partnerships, in collaboration with ASEAN University Network (AUN) and other regional higher education networks;

3.4.4. Further increase the number of fellowships for ASEAN students, to pursue higher education in India and provide scholarships in areas of mutual interests, including the performing and visual arts;

3.4.5. Promote closer collaboration between universities in ASEAN and India through the ASEAN University Network;

3.4.6. Further promote understanding of cultures of ASEAN and India through continuing media exchange programmes and people-to-people initiatives;

3.4.7. Promote the study, as well as the documentation and dissemination of knowledge, about the civilisational links between ASEAN and India;

3.4.8. Intensify efforts to preserve, protect and restore symbols and structures representing civilisational bonds between ASEAN and India, including Angkor Wat temples in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Borobudur and Prambanan temples in the Republic of Indonesia, Wat Phu in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bagan in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Sukhothai Historical Park in the Kingdom of Thailand, and My Son sanctuary in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam;

3.4.9. Continue to promote people-to-people contacts, including through visits to ASEAN and India of students, youth, academicians, scholars, librarians, local community representatives and diplomats, which help to foster ASEAN-India relations at the peoples level; as well as organise regular mass-media exchange programmes to ASEAN and India;

3.4.10. Strengthen parliamentary contacts, including through the framework of ASEAN Interparliamentary Assembly (AIPA);

3.4.11. Promote dialogue, networking and exchange of visits among government authorities responsible for cultural affairs, cultural institutions, museums, archives and libraries, artists, experts, music, acrobatics, dance, art, animation and cinematography;

3.4.12. Facilitate exchange and linkage programmes in the areas of creative and performing arts, cultural education, conservation and management of cultural and archaeological heritage, protection of traditional knowledge and folklore, cultural enterprises and creative industries;

3.4.13. Promote greater awareness and appreciation of each other's traditions, heritage and cultures, including through regularly held cultural festivals, art exhibitions, film festivals and other cultural events; discuss and exchange experiences on preserving traditional cultural values and work together to prevent theft, illicit and illegal trade and trafficking, and transfer of cultural properties;

3.4.14. Enhance awareness and understanding of each other's culture, customs and faiths, including through regular people-to-people and cultural exchange activities such as cultural festivals, exhibitions, film festivals, youth camps and media exchanges;

3.4.15. Enhance cooperation in education in line with the Cha-Am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community adopted on 24 October 2009;

3.5. Social Protection

3.5.1. Promote dialogue between government officials and stakeholders of ASEAN and India in the areas of rural development, poverty eradication, women empowerment, and protection of children against exploitation, empowerment for persons with disabilities, gender equality and elderly care;

3.5.2. Enhance the capacity to eradicate poverty through knowledge sharing between ASEAN Member States and India including training programmes, sharing of best practices and experiences, study tours, research, and other activities, to promote training and sharing experiences on poverty eradication, as well as rural development;

3.5.3. Promote cooperation in the work for the elimination of violence against women and children, as well as promoting women empowerment, including women entrepreneurs;

3.5.4. Explore possible cooperation in improving access to social protection programmes and services;

4. Initiative for ASEAN Integration and Narrowing the Development Gap

4.1. Support ASEAN's efforts in narrowing the development gap within and between ASEAN Member States through the implementation of IAI Work Plan II and its successor documents, as well as alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable development in order to realise the ASEAN Community and regional integration;

4.2. Continue to support CLMV Countries, in the implementation of the IAI;

4.3. Continue to support the less developed countries of ASEAN, including CLMV Countries, in wider areas, among others, human resources development, rural household electrification programmes, information technology curriculum and IT teacher trainings, and further increase the number of fellowships and scholarships;

4.4. Explore cooperation on the establishment of a rural development research institute in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam by India;

5. Connectivity

5.1. Enhance cooperation on the ASEAN Connectivity agenda, including through capacity building, outreach, and resource mobilisation for the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) and post-2015 agenda on ASEAN Connectivity;

5.2. Work closely to promote physical connectivity in the region by completing the missing links between South and Southeast Asia, including, but not limited to, expediting the completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and extension to Laos and Cambodia; developing a new India-Myanmar-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia highway; and encouraging private sector participation in the development of roads and railways and relevant logistics networks;

5.3.Promote maritime transport cooperation between ASEAN and India, and encourage potential private sector participation in the development of seaports, maritime logistics network and maritime services in order to create greater efficient linkages;

5.4. Deepen economic integration as well as narrow geographic and/or development gaps through intra and inter-regional transport co-operation;

5.5. Encourage efforts in visa facilitation between ASEAN and India specifically promoting a mutually beneficial business visa regime;

5.6. Enhance people-to-people connectivity through exchanges in culture and the arts, education, media, and the promotion of tourism;

5.7. Cooperate to promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP), where appropriate, in infrastructure development and other financing modalities for the implementation of the MPAC;

5.8. Promote PPP, where appropriate, and sharing of knowledge, technology and experience in infrastructure development;

5.9. Strengthen cooperation to improve infrastructure development in the region by encouraging sustainable infrastructure investment through public and private partnership and other modalities to mobilise private sector investment;

6. Strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat

6.1. Continue to support ASEAN's efforts in strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat, inter alia, by providing training and capacity building courses for staff;

7. Implementation Mechanism

7.1. This Plan of Action may be implemented under appropriate funding support through the governments of ASEAN Member States and India, including the ASEAN-India Fund, the ASEAN-India Green Fund and the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund;

7.2. Regularly review the progress of implementation of the Plan of Action through the existing mechanisms of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations; and

7.3. Submit progress reports on the implementation of the Plan of Action to the annual ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) + 1 session with India.

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