New Delhi: In the backdrop of increasing Chinese economic and military assertiveness in the Indian sub-continent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the ASEAN nations to strengthen bilateral co-operation for enhanced maritime security, peace and stability in the region.
”India shares the ASEAN vision for rule-based societies and values of peace. We are committed to working with ASEAN nations to enhance collaboration in the maritime domain,” the PM said in his speech.
India shares the ASEAN vision for rule based societies and values of peace. We are committed to work with ASEAN nations to enhance collaboration in the maritime domain: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/fzUwenf1nQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2018
”Maritime security cooperation has been our major focus during our discussions. Freedom of navigation will be a key focus of India, ASEAN in the maritime domain,” PM Modi said while addressing the plenary session of India-ASEAN summit.
PM Narendra Modi welcomed the leaders of the ASEAN-nations who will also be the chief guests at the country’s 69th Republic Day and expressed hope that peace, stability and development can be achieved in the region if all work together.
”I am delighted to welcome you all to the ASEAN-India commemorative summit. Our shared voyage goes back thousands of years. It is India’s privilege to host the ASEAN leaders. The leaders will be our honoured guests at the Republic Day celebrations,” PM Modi said.
”Since 1992 our partnership has evolved, we have made success in implementing objective of ASEAN-India partisanship for peace, progress and shared prosperity through five-year plan of action,” PM Modi said.
Welcoming the ASEAN leaders, the PM said, ”Your collective presence in India has touched hearts of my 1.25 billion fellow countrymen.”
The PM earlier held bilateral talks with his counterpart from Thailand Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on strengthening cooperation in strategic areas of trade, defence and security.
Modi also held meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the current chair of the ASEAN grouping, and Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah.
The Prime Minister has so far held bilateral meetings with six ASEAN leaders since yesterday.
These meetings on the sidelines of the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit to mark the 25 years of Indo-ASEAN ties, come in the backdrop of increasing Chinese economic and military assertiveness in the region.
In a series of tweets after these meetings, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “Our ‘Act East’ complementing Thailand’s Act West policy! Prime Minister Modi met with PM of Thailand.”
”A constructive dialogue on economic and commercial exchange, connectivity, defence and security, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges took place, he said.
Kumar also tweeted, “Strategic partnership rooted in commercial, cultural and people-to-people contacts!…Modi had a productive discussion with Singapore’s Lee Hsien loong on economic and commercial ties, FinTech, tourism, enhanced connectivity and Smart Cities.”
On Modi’s meeting with Brunei’s Sultan, Kumar tweeted, “Bolstering ties with Brunei Darussalam! the prime minister…And his Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah had positive discussion on cooperation in defence and security, energy, ICT, education, health and space.”
On the eve of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to celebrate 25 years of the India-ASEAN partnership, Modi had held bilateral meetings with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday.
(With PTI inputs)
Source: Zee News