Oceans should not become new theatres of contests: PM Modi

While delivering the 37th Singapore Lecture he said that world must speak in one voice against terrorism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told Malaysian corporate leaders that India has ended regulatory uncertainties and created a policy driven state that offers ample scope for investment.

The PM, who concluded his three day visit to Malaysia today before leaving for Singapore, assured leaders of Corporate Malaysia in the Malaysian capital: "You have the experience and expertise. We have the requirement. It is a perfect match." India, he said, is the fastest growing economy in the world, with a stable polity and offering "ample scope for investment".

On Saturday, the Prime Minister had promised at the Asean-India Summit that India was ushering in reforms "with speed and boldness" along with a transparent and predictable tax regime and protection of intellectual property rights. Modi held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak. He said the two countries will deepen their security and defence cooperation. He complimented the Malaysian PM for providing leadership in combating extremism and radicalisation, rejecting any link between terrorism and religion and in highlighting the "real values of Islam".

India and Malaysia signed three agreements – Cultural Exchange Programme agreement for 2015-2020, Cooperation in Project Delivery and Monitoring, and Cooperation on Cyber Security. The two leaders also jointly inaugurated the 'Torana Gate', a gift by India to mark the launch of Kuala Lumpur's Little India project. It was built at an estimated cost of $ 1.1 million.

The PM then left for Singapore where he delivered the prestigious ‘Singapore Lecture’ in the evening. In the backdrop of tensions between China and its neighbouring countries over South China Sea, Modi said oceans, space and cyberworld should not become "new theatres of contests" but should be the avenues of "shared prosperity".

In his 20-minute speech on ‘India’s Singapore Story’, The PM spoke about how India and China have kept their border region peaceful and stable despite the "unresolved issues", including the boundary question between the two countries. He said India will work with countries in the region and beyond, including the US and Russia, our East Asia Summit partners, “to ensure that our commons - ocean, space and cyber – remain avenues of shared prosperity, not become new theatres of contests."

Modi is on a two day visit to Singapore that is likely to focus on strengthening India-Singapore economic ties.