Jaishankar calls for safe & unblocked international waterways at East Asia Summit

New Delhi ( Raghwendra Pratap Singh) : India today stressed that international waterways must remain safe and unblocked and called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the West Asia conflict. Addressing the 21st East Asia Summit, EAS in Manila, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

The Minister said that the global order is uncertain and volatile where interdependence and common interests co-exist with competitiveness and rivalries. He also highlighted that the world economy is reeling under the impact of multiple conflicts.

Dr Jaishankar underlined India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, regional stability and the realization of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. On South China Sea, the Minister extended India’s support for the conclusion of a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct fully compliant with UNCLOS 1982 that does not prejudice the legitimate rights of all users.

He also reaffirmed India’s stand for finding a political solution to the Myanmar issue. India will be hosting two specific EAS activities this year. The conferences are the 7th EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Kochi and an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival in the ancient port city of Lothal.