The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has conveyed his condolences to President Benigno Aquino over the loss of life and destruction caused by typhoon Haiyan. In his message Dr. Manmohan Singh said that India is ready to provide all help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“As a measure of support, India proposes to send immediate relief supplies to the Philippines to help those affected by the typhoon. An aircraft with 15 tonnes of relief supplies will depart for the Philippines tonight. The material will consist of medicines and hygiene chemicals; fresh water and water purification material; tents, blankets, mattresses, tarpaulin and ground sheet for shelter; pre cooked meals, biscuits and milk powder; such that the affected persons can be provided immediately relief in terms of medical treatment, shelter and food. As a follow up measure, we shall consider sending a ship to the affected areas equipped with water treatment facilities and additional relief material to provide rehabilitation measures as well as transport to effectively ameliorate the sufferings of those affected,” said the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid after the conclusion of 11th ASEM Foreign Ministers, Meeting here on Tuesday.

The ASEM ministers discussed non-traditional security threats in detail, particularly, terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational crimes. They also discussed on how to revive economic growth and create jobs.

All the 51 ASEM members were presented in the meeting, including 34 foreign ministers and 11 deputy foreign ministers from Asia and Europe and two institutions – European Commission and ASEAN Secretariat.

The ASEM foreign ministers listed 12 areas for tangible cooperation including disaster management and mitigation. Other areas of tangible cooperation are efficient and sustainable water management, cooperation in small and medium enterprises sector, renewable energy, energy efficient technologies, higher education, vocational training and skill development, food safety issues, education and human resources development, waste management, promoting trade and investment and poverty reduction. India has said that it would extend tangible cooperation in as many as 10 listed area, excepting food safety issues and poverty reduction. Pakistan and China each have opted to be involved in six areas.

“We also assessed the achievements of ASEM over the past 17 years of its existence as well as the way forward. In our meeting over the last two days, we agreed to intensify efforts to bring about greater synergy between Asian and European partners in ASEM across the three pillars of political dialogue, economic collaboration and socio-cultural exchanges,” Khurshid said.

ASEM will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2016 and the ministers have decided to set up a Working Group from amongst ASEM members and ASEF to devise a road map for the 20th Anniversary celebrations. The ASEF Board of Governors and its Executive Director will partner the effort to bring closer synergy between ASEF activities and ASEM.

The ASEM ministers discussed Croatia's request for membership of ASEM following its accession to the EU earlier this year. Ministers welcomed Croatia as 'Guest of Chair” for all ASEM meetings in 2014 till a decision on its membership at the ASEM10 Summit in Milan, Italy in the second half of 2014. Luxembourg has offered to host the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2015.