Blitz Bureau
New Delhi: The Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) passing through the South China Sea are crucial for peace, stability, prosperity, and development of the Indo-Pacific Region, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on July 27.
Jaishankar stressed that a “substantive and effective” code of conduct should be in place that is “consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to the discussions”.
“The EAS process completes two decades next year and India will contribute towards a stronger EAS process,” he said in a post on X, mentioning the statements he conveyed at the meeting. Jaishankar said the Act East Policy, announced at that 9th EAS, has completed a decade, and India will continue to “uphold ASEAN unity and centrality through our Act East Policy.” He also emphasised that India remains a steadfast supporter of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and values its convergence with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
