1. G-20 Grouping

Current Context: Recently, the G-20 Summit 2023 was concluded on 10Th September, 2023. The two-day summit commenced on 9th September 2023 under the presidency of India and has witnessed the adoption of several remarkable decisions. 

About G-20 Grouping:

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental grouping of 19 countries namely Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa, the USA, the UK and the European Union (EU). 

• The grouping seeks to develop convergence on various global issues of inter-sectional and multi-faceted nature. 
• The member nations of G-20 constitute around 85 percent of the world’s GDP, almost 3/4th of the overall international trade and almost 67% of the world population.
• There is no permanent secretariat or headquarters of G-20. 

The Presidency hosts the Summit, directs the agenda for the calendar year.

• The Troika supports the Presidency (previous and next Presidencies). The current Troika includes Indonesia (previous), India (current) and Brazil (next).

While the Head of States meet once a year, G20 agenda is pursued by two parallel tracks -

• The Sherpa Track: The personal emissaries of the Leaders of member nations oversee all the negotiations.
• The Finance Track: In these meetings, the primary focus is on Fiscal and Monetary policy issues. 

2. 18th East Asia Summit

Current context: Recently, the 18th East-Asia Summit (EAS) was hosted by Indonesia on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN India Summit on September 7 2023.

Key takeaways from East Asia Summit:

• It was the first summit after the elevation of relations between ASEAN and India from “strategic partnership” to the level of “comprehensive strategic partnership” last year. 
• The focus area of the summit was maritime security.

About the East Asia Summit:

• It is an Indo-Pacific framework for strategic dialogue in which all members meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
• It was founded in 2005 and India is one of among one of its founding members.
• The EAS consists of 18 members- 10 ASEAN Members along with Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States of America.
• It represents about 54 percent of the world’s population and 62 percent of the global GDP amounting to about $ 54 trillion. 
• The chair of the ASEAN summit is the de facto chair of East Asia Summit. 

3. ASEAN Summit

Current Context: Recently, the 43rd ASEAN summit was convened in Jakarta, Indonesia from 4th to 7th July, 2023.  

About ASEAN:

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on the 8th August, 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Members:  

• There are 10 member nations in ASEAN: 
• Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Other members: Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. 
• Dialogue Partners: India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia.

Other Important facts about ASEAN:

• The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN. It is comprised of the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States.
• ASEAN holds meeting biannually (twice a year) with a rotating chairmanship. The First ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February 1976.

The objectives of ASEAN:

• Cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields; 
• Promotion of regional peace and stability; and 
• Adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Indian Asean relation

• The formal engagement between India and ASEAN started in 1992 as a “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” and then as a “Dialogue Partner” in 1995.
• In 2012, the dialogue partnership between India and ASEAN was upgraded to the level of strategic partnership. 
• India is part of the “ASEAN Plus Six” grouping, which includes nations like Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand and Australia.
• In 2018, ASEAN leaders were the chief guests at India’s republic day parade.
• In 2022, India and ASEAN completed 30 years of relationship. This meeting was designated as “ASEAN-India Friendship Year”. 
• In November 2022, India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership was elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Indian Government has created three funds to support the activities of cooperation between ASEAN and India. These are:

• ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund (AIF), 
• ASEAN-India Green Fund (AIGF), and 
• ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund (AISTDF).