I would argue that Asean has been instrumental in driving both economic growth and political development, and that there can be no clearer example than its relations with Myanmar.
Brunei Darussalam is one of the oldest kingdoms in South East Asia.
India's engagement with the ASEAN region lies in the clarity of the principles that we share.
India's difficulties in negotiating an FTA with both the ASEAN and E.U. are a reminder of the importance of multilateralism.
These are important markers in our engagement with South East Asia, in enhancing our strategic ties with ASEAN across 3 Cs. These 3 Cs are commerce, connectivity, and culture.
For Korea, ASEAN has undoubtedly been a special and valued friend.
Perhaps the strongest signal of reengagement with Southeast Asia was the U.S.'s accession to the Southeast Asian Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
The ASEAN is located at the center of the Indo-Pacific region and is critical for achieving a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
We hope that through these trade arrangements, through collaboration in training, in manpower development, and what have you, ASEAN in, say, ten years' time, will be a very different ASEAN.
Be careful about Burma. Most people cannot remember whether it was Siam and has become Thailand, or whether it is now part of Malaysia and should be called Sri Lanka.
Asean is obviously a very important association for us. Over the past 30 years Asean has made great strides in regional cooperation covering a number of areas, although recently it has been under strain because of the financial crisis and other challenges.
