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MANILA, Philippines -- India has appointed Neelakantan Ravi as its ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the seventh dialogue partner of the bloc to do so, the ASEAN secretariat said in a statement.
ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan welcomed the development and said the appointment will improve ASEAN-India relations.
“ASEAN has enjoyed a close partnership with India since 1995 when it progressed from a sectoral dialogue partner to become our full dialogue partner. I believe Mr. N. Ravi’s appointment will further enhance ASEAN-India strategic partnership that has since spanned the political and security, economic, and social dimensions.”
According to the ASEAN secretariat, both parties have recently concluded negotiations on the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and started negotiations on the Trade in Services and Investment Agreements.
Ambassador Ravi, who previously served as the Ambassador of India to Vietnam, is concurrently the Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
The six other countries that have appointed their top diplomats to ASEAN are the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the People’s Republic of China.
With the ASEAN Charter coming into force last December, the regional bloc now has the legal framework to negotiate with other countries and regional blocs.
