Focus on development, not expansionism: PM Modi at East Asia Summit
| 2024-10-11
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos on October 11, 2024.
Terrorism along with cyber and maritime challenges pose a serious threat to global peace and security, says PM Modi
Highlighting the need for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region while speaking at the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos on Friday (October 11, 2024), Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a focus on “development and not expansionism”.
At the same, Prime Minister Modi stressed that terrorism along with cyber and maritime challenges posed a serious threat to global peace and security, for which countries must come together to combat them.
During the course of his speech, Prime Minister Modi highlighted ASEAN's central role in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture, in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and in Quad cooperation. He underlined that India’s participation in East Asia Summit was an important pillar of its Act East Policy.
In an apparent reference to China though he did not name the country, Prime Minister Modi said security and stability of the South China Sea was in the interest of the entire region.
In his intervention during the summit, Prime Minister Modi said, “A free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is crucial for the peace and progress of the entire region. The peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea are in the interest of the entire Indo-Pacific region”.
He went on to emphasise that maritime activities should be conducted in accordance with UNCLOS. “Ensuring freedom of navigation and airspace is essential. A robust and effective Code of Conduct should be developed. And, it should not impose restrictions on the foreign policies of regional countries,” he stated.
He summed up India’s position by remarking, “Our approach should focus on development and not expansionism”.
‘Collective Desire for Peace and Stability’
Highlighting “a collective desire for the restoration of peace and stability” in regions such as Eurasia and the Middle East as soon as possible, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that this was not the age of war. “I come from the land of Buddha, and I have repeatedly stated that this is not the age of war. Solutions to problems cannot be found in the battlefield,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
“It is essential to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws. With a humanitarian perspective, we must place a strong emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy,” he noted.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the most negatively affected countries, due to ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, are those from the Global South.
On Myanmar, Prime Minister Modi said India endorses ASEAN's approach to the situation and supports the Five-Point Consensus. “We believe it is crucial to sustain humanitarian assistance and implement suitable measures for the restoration of democracy. We believe that Myanmar should be engaged rather than isolated in this process,” he stated. As a neighbouring country, India would continue to uphold its responsibilities, he pointed out.
Maintaining that the East Asia Summit is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the revival of Nalanda University was a commitment India made at an earlier summit. “This June, we fulfilled that commitment by inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University. I invite all the countries present here to participate in the 'Heads of Higher Education Conclave' to be held at Nalanda,” he said.
At the same, Prime Minister Modi stressed that terrorism along with cyber and maritime challenges posed a serious threat to global peace and security, for which countries must come together to combat them.
During the course of his speech, Prime Minister Modi highlighted ASEAN's central role in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture, in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and in Quad cooperation. He underlined that India’s participation in East Asia Summit was an important pillar of its Act East Policy.
In an apparent reference to China though he did not name the country, Prime Minister Modi said security and stability of the South China Sea was in the interest of the entire region.
In his intervention during the summit, Prime Minister Modi said, “A free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is crucial for the peace and progress of the entire region. The peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea are in the interest of the entire Indo-Pacific region”.
He went on to emphasise that maritime activities should be conducted in accordance with UNCLOS. “Ensuring freedom of navigation and airspace is essential. A robust and effective Code of Conduct should be developed. And, it should not impose restrictions on the foreign policies of regional countries,” he stated.
He summed up India’s position by remarking, “Our approach should focus on development and not expansionism”.
‘Collective Desire for Peace and Stability’
Highlighting “a collective desire for the restoration of peace and stability” in regions such as Eurasia and the Middle East as soon as possible, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that this was not the age of war. “I come from the land of Buddha, and I have repeatedly stated that this is not the age of war. Solutions to problems cannot be found in the battlefield,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
“It is essential to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws. With a humanitarian perspective, we must place a strong emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy,” he noted.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the most negatively affected countries, due to ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, are those from the Global South.
On Myanmar, Prime Minister Modi said India endorses ASEAN's approach to the situation and supports the Five-Point Consensus. “We believe it is crucial to sustain humanitarian assistance and implement suitable measures for the restoration of democracy. We believe that Myanmar should be engaged rather than isolated in this process,” he stated. As a neighbouring country, India would continue to uphold its responsibilities, he pointed out.
Maintaining that the East Asia Summit is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the revival of Nalanda University was a commitment India made at an earlier summit. “This June, we fulfilled that commitment by inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University. I invite all the countries present here to participate in the 'Heads of Higher Education Conclave' to be held at Nalanda,” he said.
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