Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan attended the meeting and presented India's perspectives on the Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative, the threat of terrorism, maritime issues and coronavirus pandemic.

India shared views on coronavirus, and maritime security at ASEAN meeting (Photo: Twitter/MOS_MEA)

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Saturday participated in an online meeting of the foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held under the Chairmanship of Vietnam. The 27th ARF Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) exchanged views on international and regional issues.

During the meeting, V Muraleedharan presented India's perspectives on the Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative, the threat of terrorism, maritime issues in the context of UNCLOS framework and cooperation for collective response for the coronavirus pandemic.

The ARF ministers adopted three statements that are: (i) Enhancing cooperation to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, (ii) treatment of children recruited by or associated with terrorist groups, and (iii) cooperation in the field of security of and in the use of ICTs in the context of international security.

India engages in various ARF activities and initiatives on maritime security; counter-terrorism; Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and disaster relief.

Under the ARF activities approved for 2020-21 during the meeting, India will co-chair workshops on International Ship and Port facility Security Code (ISPS Code) and on Implementing United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international instruments.