New Delhi: India will share its expertise in digital public infrastructure (DPI), such as Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), with ASEAN nations, exploring collaboration to address challenges in areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, and climate change. This was outlined in a joint statement released after the 21st India-ASEAN Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the 10 ASEAN member nations, held in Vientiane, Laos.
A key focus of the summit was exploring cross-border linkages between India and ASEAN's payment systems through innovative digital solutions. The leaders also adopted joint statements aimed at enhancing digital transformation and strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the adopted statements would lay the foundation for future collaborations, particularly in digital transformation. The summit took place amid ongoing regional tensions, such as disputes in the South China Sea and the crisis in Myanmar.
India and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, maritime safety, and freedom of navigation, as well as supporting the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Both sides expressed hope for an early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the region, adhering to international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The collaboration will also explore fintech innovations and digital financial solutions, further strengthening digital public infrastructure, which in India includes identity (Aadhaar), payments (UPI), and data management (DigiLocker). India's healthcare sector, through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and e-Sanjeevani for telemedicine, is expected to play a significant role in the partnership.
Additionally, both sides committed to expanding cybersecurity cooperation to bolster the security and resilience of digital economies. They agreed to develop frameworks for leveraging AI technologies responsibly and to support skills development, infrastructure, and risk management policies for harnessing AI advancements.
The summit underscored India’s continued commitment to building strong digital and strategic ties with ASEAN, whose 10 member countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Source-PTI
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