EAST ASIA SUMMIT 'IMPORTANT PILLAR' OF INDIA'S ACT EAST POLICY: PM MODI

A free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific is vital for the peace and progress of the entire region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, addressing the East Asia Summit in Laos here.

The Prime Minister further said that the approach to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region should be of development, rather than "expansionism," in indirect reference to China which has shown strong assertiveness in the South China Sea triggering geopolitical tensions.

"A free, open, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific is vital for the peace and progress of the entire region. The peace, security and stability of the South China Sea is in the interest of the entire Indo-Pacific region," PM Modi said while delivering his remarks at the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos today. He asserted that maritime activities should be conducted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the "foreign policy of regional countries should not be curbed in this." "We believe that maritime activities should be conducted under UNCLOS. It is necessary to ensure Freedom of Navigation and Air Space. A solid and effective Code of Conduct should be made.

And the foreign policy of regional countries should not be curbed in this," the Prime Minister said.

"Our approach should be that of development, not expansionism," he added. He underscored that the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) is at the centre of India's Indo-Pacific vision and Quad cooperation. "India has always supported ASEAN Unity and Centrality. ASEAN is also at the centre of India's Indo-Pacific vision and Quad cooperation. There are deep parallels between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific," he said.