At the invitation of the Government of India, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, was on an official visit to India from 11 to 15 February 2024. This was the first official visit by Dr. Kao to India since assuming charge in January 2023.
During the visit, Secretary-General of ASEAN met with the External Affairs Minister and other dignitaries in Delhi. He delivers the Sapru House Lecture organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on the theme” The ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Evolving Regional Architecture”.
Secretary-General of ASEAN visited the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Gaya. He was scheduled to deliver an address on “The Future of ASEAN: ASEAN’s Relevance and Resilience in the Evolving Strategic Environment” at the Nalanda University in Rajgir. Students from ASEAN Member States pursue higher education at the University under ASEAN-India cooperation projects. The Nalanda University also leads the ASEAN-India Network of Universities (AINU).
Engagement with ASEAN is an important pillar of India’s Act East Policy, which has entered into its 10th year in 2024, as well as its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific. In 2022, the ASEAN-India relations were elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India firmly supports ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). India also supports the priorities set by Lao PDR in its ASEAN Chairmanship for the year 2024 under the theme ”ASEAN: Enhancing Conectivity and Resilience”.