VIENTIANE: 28th ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting

VIENTIANE: The Minister of State for
External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh led India’s delegation to the 28th
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers Meeting held virtually on 06
August 2021.

The Meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam. The ARF
member countries exchanged views on international and regional issues, as well
as future direction of the ARF. Dr. Singh presented India’s perspectives on the
Indo-Pacific, the threat of terrorism, importance of UNCLOS in the maritime
domain and cyber security.

The ARF Ministers adopted a Joint Statement on Promoting the Youth, Peace and
Security (YPS) Agenda.

India engages actively in ARF activities and initiatives on Maritime Security;
Counter Terrorism; Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); Disaster
Relief etc. In 2021, India co-chaired an ARF workshop on Implementing the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). During 2021-22, India
will co-chair the ARF Inter Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security and conduct
a workshop on International Ship and Port facility Security Code (ISPS Code).