PM Modi calls for 'peaceful means' to solve territorial disputes

Says specific plans of co-operation with maritime security, counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief should be evolved

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for 'peaceful means' to settle all territorial disputes.

"India shares with ASEAN a commitment to freedom of navigation, over flight and unimpeded commerce, in accordance with accepted principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the law of the Sea. Territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing the 13th ASEAN-India Summit at the Convention Centre here.

"India hopes that all the parties to the disputes in the South China Sea while will abide by the guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration of the conduct of the parties in South China Sea, and redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus," he added.

The Prime Minister insisted that specific plans of co-operation with maritime security, counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief should be evolved.

Modi also said that he is looking forward to ASEAN leading the way in defining the regional architecture and that India attach the highest priority to this partnership.

"The 1st ASEAN-India Cyber Security Conference we hosted in Jan 2015 should be the springboard for greater cooperation. ASEAN remains the largest investment partner - both for inward and outward flows, but there is great potential for expansion," he said.

He also called for enhancing cooperation with ASEAN on terrorism and for adoption of Comprehensive Convention on international terrorism.