New Delhi, 12 March 2015 – The Philippines participated in the annual Delhi Dialogue, now on its 7th edition, on 11-12 March 2015. This year’s theme was entitled ASEAN-India: Shaping the Post 2015 Agenda. Political leaders, policy makers, senior officials, diplomats, business leaders, think tanks and academics from both sides participated in the discussions spread over two days.The Philippine delegation was headed by CHED Executive Director Atty. Julito Vitriolo.
The Delhi Dialogue is an annual Track 1.5 forum for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India. Since its first edition in 2009, Delhi Dialogue has evolved into a useful forum for brainstorming on all aspects of the ASEAN-India relationship and has contributed towards the strengthening of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership established in 2012. The event was hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs in cooperation with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), other Indian agencies and ASEAN think tanks.
DD VII was divided into three sessions - Inaugural, Business and Academic. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj delivered the Keynote Address during the inaugural session which was followed by speeches and panel discussions on Building Connectivity between India and ASEAN and Future Direction on India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.
This year’s edition featured a dedicated Business Session discussing the possible benefits of the ASEAN Economic Community both the ASEAN countries and India with a focus on the “Make in India” campaign of the Government of India and attention to trade in services between the two regions. The Academic Session covered a wide range of discussions on subjects such as maritime security, cyber security, skill development, building knowledge on society and economy, cultural linkages, integration of regional production networks and value chains, infrastructure and energy and the way forward for ASEAN-India relations.
Atty. Vitriolo was the lead panelist in the discussion on socio-cultural issues where he highlighted that people to people contacts were as important as exchanges of business delegations.
The Philippines also enjoyed the support of ASEAN neighbors Indonesia and Vietnam as well as India on the Philippine position for peaceful resolution of maritime conflicts based on rule of law.
