India: cooperation with ASEAN in the maritime domain envisaged

India and the ASEAN countries have agreed to set up a mechanism on maritime cooperation to counter the common challenges they face in the maritime domain. The information was confirmed at a press briefing press briefing. This intention follows the Delhi declaration of the ASEAN-INDIA commemorative summit, which reaffirmed “the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, and other lawful uses of the seas and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and to promote peaceful resolutions of disputes” and the support of the signatories to the “full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)”. That declaration may be found here.