Guwahati: A delegation led by Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday departed for Cambodia in order to attend the 17th East Asia Summit and the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, both of which will take place in Phnom Penh on November 12 and 13.
The Vice President is travelling abroad for the first time in his new position.
Vice President is also accompanied by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
These summits are being hosted by Cambodia, the ASEAN Chair at the moment. The ASEAN-India Friendship Year is being observed in honour of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations.
The delegation is being led by Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, who will also meet privately with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and other dignitaries. He would also have separate bilateral conversations with other presidents in the background.
Vice President will attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in Phnom Penh on November 12 and on 13, 2022, he will participate in the 17th East Asia Summit which comprises the ten ASEAN member states (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam) and its eight dialogue partners- India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.
The Vice President and ASEAN leaders will examine the commemorative activities that have been held throughout the year during the summit, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Additionally, they will assess their progress and share opinions on how the relationship will develop over the next ten years. During the interaction, significant regional and global developments would also be discussed.
The nations of India and Cambodia continue to have cordial relations that are expected to improve. Cambodia continues to be a significant partner and interlocutor in the context of ASEAN and India’s Act East Policy.
The Buddhist religion and the great temples of Cambodia, most notably Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom, and Preah Vihear, are manifestations of centuries-old, cultural, and historical ties.
India supported Cambodia through one of the most challenging times in modern history. The government and people of Cambodia kept this in mind and acknowledged it.
In addition, the vice president will speak with Say Chhum, the president of the Senate, and Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“We are hopeful of concluding some Memorandum of Understandings which have been discussed,” said MEA Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar during a briefing. “The visit would deepen our capacity building and demining cooperation there.”
On the day of his arrival, the vice president would also be interacting with members of the Indian community and friends of India in Phnom Penh.
Dhankar will fly to Siem Reap on November 13th after attending the East Asia Summit in order to open the Hall of Dancers at the Ta Phrom temple.
Additionally, he will pay a quick visit to the Angkor Wat temple, where India had worked there in the 1980s. According to Saurabh Kumar, “We think the visit would boost the bilateral ties between India and Cambodia.”
The Vice President will visit Siem Reap after leaving Phnom Penh in order to assess the preservation and restoration efforts being made by India at Cambodian heritage sites.