New Delhi: Nov 21 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday emphasised the Buddhist principle of peaceful coexistence at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Laos. He said open dialogue promotes trust, understanding and cooperation.
“The Buddhist principle of peaceful coexistence should be adopted more closely by all countries. The world is increasingly getting divided into blocs and camps, putting pressure on the established world order,” the Defence Minister said while addressing the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Forum in Vientiane.
Rajnath Singh said India is in favour of freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
“India has always advocated dialogue to resolve complex international issues and has done so,” the Defence Minister said. He said open dialogue promotes trust, understanding and cooperation and lays the foundation for lasting partnerships.
Rajnath Singh said, “The power of dialogue has always proven to be effective, yielding concrete results. India believes that real, long-term solutions to global problems can be achieved only when countries engage constructively, respect each other’s perspectives and work towards shared goals in a spirit of cooperation.”
Describing the 21st century as the ‘Asian Century’, the Defence Minister said the ASEAN region in particular has always been economically dynamic and full of trade, commerce and cultural activities. He said India has remained a trusted friend of the region during this transformational journey.
Referring to a quote by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore during his visit to South East Asia in 1927, the Defence Minister said “I could see India everywhere, yet I could not recognise it”, symbolising the deep and wide cultural and historical ties between India and South East Asia.
