Modi and Laos PM hold bilateral talks, discuss SCS issues

The Dollar Business Bureau

PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Laotian counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and discussed regional developments including the issue on the South China Sea.

In his address at the Summit, Modi called sea-lanes as the lifelines of global trade and securing them was a shared responsibility between countries. He also added that India has always supported the freedom of navigation which is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). His remarks come as a reaction to the reports of China's growing assertive claims to territory in the South China Sea. While Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei have expressed great concern over China's aggressiveness in the region. The South China Sea is a busy waterway over which India's 50% of trade passes through.

India along with the US have been calling for freedom of passage in the international waters, much to the chagrin of China, which is miffed at ONGC exploring for oil and gas at the invitation of Vietnam in the South China Sea waters. The South China Sea is believed to be rich with deposits of oil and gas. The recent claim by China over the South China Sea was struck down by an international tribunal added to its discomfort.

Modi and Sisoulith held parleys on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.

The Laotian premier appreciated India's consistent support to Laos, particularly in areas of human resources development, agriculture, irrigation, and power.

Modi is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summits during his two-day visit, including with US President Barack Obama, South Korean president Park Geun-hye and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

In his talks with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, India and Japan pledged to strengthen ties in the key areas of counter-terrorism, civil nuclear cooperation, trade and investment.