Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Periasamy Kumaran, and Undersecretary for Policy at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, Leo M Herrera-Lim, led the 28th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting in Manila. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of decisions made during the ASEAN-India Summit in October 2025 and exploring ways to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions also revolved around marking the year 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.
In a statement, the MEA spokesperson highlighted the meeting’s emphasis on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the progress made since the ASEAN-India Summit in 2025. Additionally, Periasamy Kumaran engaged with representatives from various sectors in Manila, fostering discussions on bilateral and global issues.
During his visit, Periasamy Kumaran met with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, to discuss the advancement of the strategic partnership between the two nations and India’s support for ASEAN. Lazaro acknowledged the positive exchange on the progress of the Philippines-India strategic partnership and India’s active role in supporting ASEAN.
The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Manila continued to deliberate on the Philippines’ Chairship priorities and efforts to enhance ASEAN Community-building. The meeting, attended by leaders or representatives of ASEAN Member States, focused on strengthening ASEAN’s external relations and preparations for the upcoming 48th ASEAN Summit in May 2026. ASEAN, established in 1967, now comprises 11 Member States, with Timor-Leste being the latest addition in October 2025.
