Philippines Calls for Closer Cooperation in Science, Technology, Innovation, Highlights Concern Over Developments in South China Sea at 23rd ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting

Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and SOM Leader Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (center row, second from left) joins fellow ASEAN SOM Leaders and the ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN Political Security Community Robert Matheus Tene in a meeting with Secretary (East) of the External Affairs Ministry and India SOM Leader Riva Ganguly Das. (DFA photo)

PASAY CITY 30 April 2021 – Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Affairs and Philippine Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader Elizabeth P. Buensuceso represented the Philippines and led discussions on COVID-19 vaccine research and development; Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) education; smart cities; health and biotechnology; agriculture and food sustainability; climate research; digital economies and information and communication technology (ICT) at the 23rd ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (AISOM), held via video conference on 28 April 2021.

Philippine SOM Leader Buensuceso also spoke on the presence of foreign maritime militia vessels in Philippine maritime zones which not only infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, but also threaten the security and stability in the region. While the Meeting’s participants reiterated calls for adherence to the rule of law, including the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), exercise of self-restraint, resolution of disputes by peaceful means, and undertaking cooperative activities to build trust and confidence. 

Other matters discussed during the meeting aside from regional developments in ASEAN and India are as follows: ways to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation in economic matters, enhancing regional connectivity, addressing terrorism and violent extremism, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction and management, need for a closer and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and enhancing cooperation in several areas of public health such as ramping up research and development for medicines, vaccine production and distribution, among others measures.

Thailand’s Permanent Secretary and SOM Leader Thani Thongphakdi, Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations, and India’s Secretary (East) of the External Affairs Ministry and SOM Leader Riva Ganguly Das co-chaired the Meeting. END