Reported by: Abhishek Jha
Last update: May 13, 2023, 01:12am IST
Jaishankar also spoke on the issue of sustainable debt, which he said was a “significant shared concern.” (Image File/ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed the importance of the Indian Ocean region for India’s national interests. He also called for further cooperation between India and Bangladesh in areas like trade, investment and connectivity.
India and Bangladesh highlighted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka on Friday.
Speaking at the event, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the publication of Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook last month underscored the widespread recognition of the Indo-Pacific concept. He noted that the perspective puts an emphasis on UNCLOS and said that it is essential for the credibility of the global order that such foundational regimes are respected.
The Indian Ocean Region has important economic, political and strategic implications in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. It shares 64% of the world’s population and 60% of the world’s GDP.
Jaishankar also spoke on the issue of sustainable debt, which he said was a “significant shared concern.” He said fostering opaque lending practices, exorbitant companies and price points that were unrelated to the market were “bound to bite us.”
Jaishankar stressed the importance of the Indian Ocean Region for the national interests of India. He also called for further cooperation between India and Bangladesh in areas like trade, investment and connectivity.
The minister called for facilitating fluid and efficient connectivity in the region, but added that “we need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The conference was opened by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. In her remarks, she stressed the importance of regional cooperation in promoting peace, prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean region. She also called for greater collaboration on issues like climate change, maritime security, and economic development. Hasina also called for the “active support of the world community” to repatriate Rohingya refugees to their homeland in a “safe and sustainable manner.”