UN Convention on Law of the Sea must be respected-India, Germany

India and Germany on Tuesday said that the UN Convention on Law of the Sea must be respected.

Both sides underlined the importance of freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and other maritime rights and obligations in accordance with the convention and other principles of international law.

Both leaders attached particular importance to security, stability, connectivity and sustainable development of the blue economy in the Indian Ocean Region.

Both leaders also welcomed the cooperation in disaster management under the work plan agreed in the Joint Declaration of Intent signed between the two countries for cooperation on investing in creation of knowledge, expertise and information exchange.

Both leaders reiterated their commitment to promote shared values such as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic governance, equality, the rule of law, and multilateral cooperation.

Both leaders welcomed the intensified exchange of views on issues of common concern between their Foreign Ministries through various dialogue formats, particularly foreign policy consultations, Asian policy consultations, African policy consultations, and policy planning dialogue.

They also welcomed the newly established collaboration between the Foreign Service Institute of India and the Foreign Service Academy of Germany, with a visit of young German diplomats to New Delhi in March 2017 and signing of a Declaration of Intent on further cooperation.

The two sides expressed their interest in exploring the possibilities to cooperate in their assistance to African countries. They called for a process by which concrete synergies in areas such as capacity building, vocational training, connectivity and renewable energy will be set up. They encouraged their respective businesses to explore collaborative activities to promote trade and development in Africa.

Prime Minister Modi and Federal Chancellor Merkel reiterated their commitment to the ambitious implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, both domestically and through international cooperation, as well as the implementation of the Paris Agreement with a timely transformation to low-carbon inclusive sustainable economies.

Germany welcomed India's early ratification of the Paris Agreement, allowing the agreement to enter into force in November 2016.

Both leaders stressed the important role of the G20 in fostering strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, private investments, free and rules-based trade and financial markets regulation.

In the context of the German G20 Presidency's theme "Shaping an Interconnected World", Prime Minister Modi welcomed the Presidency's focus on building resilience, improving sustainability and assuming responsibility, as well as on enhancing the benefits of globalization and sharing them more widely at national and international levels.

Both leaders looked forward to the G20 Summit under the chairmanship of Federal Chancellor Merkel in Hamburg in July this year.