Muraleedharan at ASEAN Regional Forum
New Delhi: The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific multilateral forum on peace and security, on Saturday resolved to strengthen cooperation for treatment of children recruited by or associated with terrorist groups and security of and in the use of international communication technologies (ICTs) in the context of global security.
The meeting also resolved to enhance cooperation among member countries to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, who participated in the second meeting of the ARF Foreign Ministers through videoconferencing, presented India’s perspectives on the Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative, threat of terrorism, maritime issues in the context of UNCLOS framework and cooperation for collective response for COVID-19.
Vietnam chaired the meeting through video conferencing because of COVID.
Glad to participate in the 27th #ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial. Shared India’s views on #COVID19 #MaritimeSecurity #IndoPacific #CounterTerrorism. India will co-chair #ARF workshops on Port security & #UNCLOS. Thank #Vietnam for its leadership.@narendramodi @DrSJaishankar pic.twitter.com/3CeYjAfKOV
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) September 12, 2020
‘’The ARF Ministers adopted three Statements--Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent and Respond to Infectious Disease Outbreaks, Treatment of Children Recruited by or Associated with Terrorist Groups and Cooperation in the Field of Security and in the Use of ICTs in the Context of International Security,’’ a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry here said..
India engages in various ARF activities and initiatives on Maritime Security, Counter Terrorism, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Disaster Relief.
Under the ARF activities approved for 2020-21 during the meeting, India will co-chair workshops on International Ship and Port facility Security Code (ISPS Code) and on Implementing United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international instruments.
Ten ASEAN Foreign Ministers and those from 16 other countries and the European Union (EU) are attending the conference which will also discuss COVID-19 besides the usual regional conflicts including the South China Sea issue.
