India for Free & Rules-based Indo-Pacific for economic development of the region: Regional Rajnath Singh at Indo-Pacific Dialogue

'Dialogue only civilised mechanism for resolving disputes & creating global order' 'India does not believe in a world order where few are considered superior to others, multi-aligned policy only way to shared prosperity'

NEW DELHI. India stands for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific as it is important for the economic development of not only the region but also the wider global community, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during his keynote address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in New Delhi on November 25.

He highlighted India's vision of the Indo-Pacific by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement during Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June 2018: "The Prime Minister had said that India stands for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, which embraces us all in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity. He put forth our idea of ASEAN centrality in the region and said that our common prosperity and security require us to evolve, through dialogue, a common rules-based order."

Rajnath Singh emphasised that dialogue is the only civilised mechanism for resolving disputes & disagreements and creating regional or global order.  He cited the Prime Minister's resolute message during the G-20 summit in Bali recently that "the era of war is over". It was echoed by the world leaders, with the G-20 communique mentioning that 'now is not the time for war'.

"In the times when humanity is facing problems like climate change, Covid-19 pandemic & widespread deprivation, it is essential that we all work together to surmount these mammoth challenges, without being distracted by the destructive seduction of wars and conflicts," he said.