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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Vientiane in Laos. PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Southeast Asian country, extended his condolences for the loss of at least 14 lives due to Hurricane Milton in the United States.
The Prime Minister addressed the 19th East Asia Summit today, emphasising the importance of peace and stability in Eurasia and the Middle East. PM Modi stated that solutions to problems cannot be found on the battlefield and highlighted that a free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is crucial for the peace and progress of the entire region.
“I come from the land of Buddha, and I have repeatedly said that this is not the era of war. Solutions to problems cannot come from the battlefield. It is necessary to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and international laws. Keeping a humanitarian approach, dialogue and diplomacy will have to be given priority,” the Prime Minister asserted.
Referring to China’s actions in the South China Sea, PM Modi said, “We believe that maritime activities should be conducted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).
“It is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation and airspace. A strong and effective Code of Conduct should be created. And it should not curb the foreign policy of regional countries. Our approach should be one of developmentalism and not expansionism,” Modi said.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister participated in the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and also interacted with several global leaders. He held a "very productive" meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, according to officials. The leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in different areas, including infrastructure, connectivity and defence.
Additionally, PM Modi also met his New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the margins of the ASEAN-India Summit.
Published On:
Oct 11, 2024
