VP Jagdeep Dhankhar participates in 17th East Asia Summit in Cambodia

Phnom Penh: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday participated in the 17th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Dhankhar along with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar arrived on a three-day visit to Cambodia on November 11.

Jagdeep Dhankhar also met US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the 17th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is pertinent to note that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend East Asia Summit. He is not certain to attend the G20 leaders’ summit scheduled to be held next week, despite receiving an invitation from host Indonesia.

Notably, East Asia Summit comprises ASEAN member states — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam and its eight dialogue partners – India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. It is the only leader-led forum at which all key Indo-Pacific partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the region and has an important role



to play in advancing closer regional cooperation.

According to the statement released by the Australian government, the EAS calendar culminates in the annual Leaders’ Summit, which is usually held alongside ASEAN Leaders meetings in the fourth quarter of every year. In addition to their discussions, leaders issue statements on topical issues to signal political will for framing policy responses and to provide a basis for cooperation.

Apart from the Leaders Summit, meetings of EAS Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers are held every year. The summit also serves as a platform for discussion of political, regional security, and economic issues. The summit also prepares for the Leaders’ Summit, including by developing statements for leaders’ consideration of new areas of cooperation and mutual understanding.

Meetings between EAS Environment, Energy, and Education Ministers are also held from time to time. The 16th East Asia Summit was held on October 27, 2021, virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier on November 12, Dhankhar participated in the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh.