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Emphasizing sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while preserving the ecosystem’s health, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India stands for open and rule-based maritime borders in Indo-Pacific.
Singh reaffirmed India’s resolve for open, free and rule-based maritime borders in the Indo-Pacific region.
Addressing at the 18th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) here, Singh asserted that India, throughout history, has been a peace-loving society which has never invaded a foreign land and has always respected universal human values and territorial integrity of other countries, while treating them as equal partners.
He stressed that oceanic space should be respected as a global common for the benefit of all humanity in an environmentally sustainable way.
“We stand for open, free, rule-based maritime borders in Indo-pacific, in which no nation, how-so-ever big, may be allowed to appropriate the global common or exclude others from its fair use. We are always ready and forthcoming to work with all the like-minded partner countries across various forums towards this endeavour,” Singh said.
He stressed that India’s shared vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth of All in Region), Sustainable Development Goals and ‘Rule Based Order at Sea’ complement the focused Indian approach of inclusive growth and lasting collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted India’s focus towards the blue economy and strongly advocated the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs and preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
