New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Wednesday at the 11th East Asia Summit (EAS) highlighted the growing convergence of approaches on the Indo-Pacific region among different member nations.
Without naming China, the minister stressed that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea should be fully consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Stressed that Code of Conduct on the South China Sea should be fully consistent with UNCLOS 1982. Should not prejudice legitimate rights and interests of nations not a party to discussions,” the minister tweeted.
This comes amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Beijing continues to claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Jaishankar‘s remarks come as a task force of four warships from the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet is scheduled to proceed on an over two-month overseas deployment to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific, which will include exercises with Quad partners the United States, Japan and Australia.

During the EAS Foreign Ministers Meeting, EAM Jaishankar also supported the ASEAN five-point consensus on Myanmar and welcomed the appointment of Special Envoy.
“Supported the ASEAN five-point consensus on Myanmar and welcomed the appointment of Special Envoy. Noted the growing Covid-19 challenge faced by ASEAN and conveyed our support and solidarity,” EAM added.
Jaishankar said he participated in a substantive and fruitful ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting today. “Much of India’s interests and relationships now lie to its East, a testimony of its ties with ASEAN. Looking forward to an early review of our Trade in Goods Agreement.”
“Support Initiative for ASEAN Integration through capacity building initiatives. Contribute through Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). Noted progress in Doctoral Fellowships and Hackathon,” he added.
The minister also proposed 2022 as the ASEAN-India friendship year for the 30th anniversary.

India’s ties with ASEAN rooted in history and strengthened by proximity, says Jaishankar

India’s ties with the ASEAN are rooted in history and strengthened by proximity, said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, adding these are factors that can help us achieve a vision of a more ‘connected’ India and ASEAN.
During the 11th East Asia Summit (EAS), Jaishankar in a statement on Wednesday said: “India’s ties with the ASEAN are, of course, rooted in history and strengthened by proximity. Together, these are factors that can help us achieve a vision of a more ‘connected’ India and ASEAN. This will naturally require the realization of a dedicated set of initiatives which, of course, constitute the core of our collaborative agenda.”
“Across the world, ASEAN is held up as a good example of successful regionalism, multilateralism and globalization. This year’s theme of ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper’ under the able chairmanship of Brunei succinctly captures the outlook of ASEAN. I am confident that this theme applies equally to our partnership as well,” he said.

The Foreign Minister also conveyed gratitude to Thailand, country coordinator for their steadfast support and cooperation over the past three years in furthering the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership.
“Let me start by conveying my sincere thanks to Thailand, our Country Coordinator, for their steadfast support and cooperation over the past three years in furthering the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership. I also take this opportunity to welcome Singapore, our incoming Country Coordinator. We look forward to closely working with them especially as we embark on our journey with the new Plan of Action for 2021-2025,” Jaishankar said in a statement.
He further said: “It is also a testimony to the success of ASEAN that it is widely perceived as the foundation of the evolving strategic and economic architecture of the larger region. That ASEAN-led initiatives have established their salience across so many domains speaks for itself. India is committed to supporting a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN, one whose centrality in the Indo-Pacific is fully appreciated. The strong convergence between the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative (IPOI) proposed by India adds another dimension to our contemporary partnership.”
“The broader context, in which we approach our relationship today, as indeed anything else of significance is undeniably that of the Covid-19 crisis. We have noted how ASEAN members have purposefully responded to it, individually and collectively. These challenges have also brought ASEAN and India even closer, as we have extended practical support to each other during these times of stress. It is something we can discuss later,” Jaishankar added.
The minister also proposed 2022 as the ASEAN-India friendship year for their 30th anniversary. “We agreed to commemorate this important occasion by celebrating it as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year,” he added. (ANI)

(ANI)