Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that a free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is vital for the peace and progress of the entire region. He said peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea are in the interest of the entire Indo-Pacific region. The Prime Minister was speaking at the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR, today. Highlighting concern over the ongoing conflict in different regions of the world, Mr. Modi said development should be the approach, not expansionism. He said the ongoing conflicts in different regions are negatively impacting the countries of the Global South. He said that everyone wants peace and stability to be restored in Eurasia and the West Asia region. He reiterated that this is not an age of war and solutions to problems cannot come from the battlefield.The Prime Minister emphasised that it is necessary to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws. He said emphasis must be laid on humanitarian approach, dialogue, and diplomacy. He said India will continue to make every possible contribution in this direction. Terming terrorism a serious challenge to global peace and security, the Prime Minister stressed that humanity will have to work together to deal with the challenges posed by the terrorism. He said cooperation will also have to be strengthened in the areas of cyber, maritime, and space. He said it is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation and airspace.During his address, the Prime Minister also expressed his deepest condolences to the people affected by Typhoon Yagi. He said India has provided humanitarian assistance through Operation Sadbhav. Akashvani A correspondent reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first leader to be invited to address the East Asia Summit after the host and incoming chair. The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of participating countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance. The East Asia Summit encompasses the 10 ASEAN countries and eight partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States. Timor-Leste will also be a partner as an observer.
Mr. Modi and his Lao PDR counterpart Sonexay Siphandone today held productive discussions aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including in key sectors of cooperation such as heritage conservation and restoration, development partnership, capacity building, economic, defence, culture, and people-to-people ties. India and Lao PDR exchanged MoUs for defence cooperation, mutual assistance in customs matters, and quick-impact projects under Mekong Ganga cooperation. Prasar Bharati and Lao National Television exchanged an MOU for cooperation in broadcasting. The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Mr. Modi and Mr. Siphandone. Mr. Modi also met his Thailand counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Vientiane today. The leaders exchanged views on areas of India-Thailand bilateral relations and ways to forge closer regional cooperation through BIMSTEC.
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