At the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Consultations on July 22, 2011 in Bali, most of the countries had emphasised the need to improve coordination amongst EAS member countries on disaster management and relief.

Taking their cue from the EAS on 19 November, 2011, in Bali, Indonesia and the successful organization of the 1st EAS-India Workshop-2012 in New Delhi, followed by the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers Meeting (ASEM FMM11) in November 2013 in New Delhi, an initiative for Roundtables on Disaster Management for ASEM/EAS/ASEAN countries has emerged.

The main objective is to set up an East Asia Centre for Natural Disaster Management and Relief in India, as part of India’s Look East Policy. It was suggested that Heads of National Disaster Management Agencies will convene a meeting among ASEM partners.