Maritime Cooperation a Significant Priority Area for Asia-Pacific Region: Anil Wadhwa

February 19, 2016

New Delhi: Advocating the need for a common regional vision for a ‘Blue Economy’ through public-private partnerships, Secretary (East), MEA, Government of India, Shri Anil Wadhwa today said that leveraging of technology, such as marine spatial planning to harvest marine resources in a sustainable manner is a priority. Shri Wadhwa was speaking at the Academic Session of the eighth edition of Delhi Dialogue on ‘ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm’ organised at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on February 19, 2016.

The private sector should be encouraged to act more responsibly in its use of marine resources, while participating in key marine resource-based industries, noted Shri Wadhwa, adding that long term sustainability of the coastal and marine ecosystems and the economy, by moving from an ‘Ocean Economy’ to a ‘Blue Economy’, can be achieved by careful balancing of human needs and ecosystem protection. Developing a blue economy in the region would mean integrating its goals into the regional social economic and environmental development, he reflected.

Shri Wadhwa further noted that the maritime cooperation has emerged as a significant priority area of cooperation, with the nations adopting a ‘Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation in the Asia Pacific’ at the 10th East Asia Summit (EAS), which emphasised on sustainable marine economic development.

Speaking further, he said that the year 2015 was an eventful year for the Asia-Pacific Region in terms of regional security issues. The security issues of terrorism, moderation, cyber crime and South China Sea were addressed throughout the year, culminating in the 10th EAS, held in November 2015. Three statements/declarations were adopted by EAS on counter terrorism related issues viz on countering violent extremism, global movement of moderates, and on Information Communication Technology (ICT) security, he pointed out.

Commenting on India’s peaceful maritime boundary settlement with Bangladesh under UNCLOS, he said that the move has been hailed as an example worthy of emulation by EAS-participating countries during discussion on maritime security.

Advocating the ‘whole of the world’ approach in countering terrorism, Shri Wadhwa said that India has displayed early initiative in building a global resolve and new strategies for combating terrorism by tabling a comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the United Nations, almost two decades ago. The initiative has now gathered greater traction at a time when the spectre of global terrorism appears more threatening, he said.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Director General, IDSA, Shri Jayant Prasad described the ASEAN-India partnership as the cornerstone of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, with its three pillars resting on promoting greater economic cooperation, deepening cultural ties, and developing strategic relationships with countries in the Asia Pacific region.’ He said that the core focus for ASEAN and India must continue to be accelerating their on-going social and economic transformation.

Delhi Dialogue is an annual Track 1.5 forum for discussing politico-security, economic and socio-cultural issues between ASEAN and India. Since 2009 when the conference was first held, Delhi Dialogue has emerged as an important forum at which political leaders, policy makers, researchers, academicians, business leaders and media persons converge for brainstorming on a range of issues pertaining to ASEAN-India relations.