KUALA LUMPUR: India has called for stronger regional maritime cooperation with Asean.
The country has also called for zero tolerance on terrorism which poses a continuous and corrosive threat.
“Our commitment to furthering maritime cooperation remains strong, in line with the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and our shared commitment to the 1982 UNCLOS. 2026 will be observed as the Asean-India year of maritime cooperation.
“Notably, more nations have joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative,” said External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during the 20th East Asia Summit that was held at the 47th Asean Summits and Related Summits here on Monday (Oct 27).
“Excellencies, in Myanmar, we were a ‘First Responder’ during the March earthquake. Our project on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, in which all of us have stakes, continues to progress.
“We share the concern about cyber scam centres in the region which have also entrapped our nationals,” he added.
Jaishankar also said that there are conflicts that have significant repercussions that have disrupted food security, threaten energy flows and trade.
“India, therefore, welcomes the Gaza peace plan. We also seek an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, terrorism poses a continuous and corrosive threat. The world must display zero tolerance; there is no room for ambivalence. Our right of defence against terrorism can never be compromised,” he added.
Jaishankar also had a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur amidst a backdrop of trade negotiations between the two countries.
“Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues,” Jaishankar said on X.
