Speaking at the East Asia Summit in Vietnam on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about how conflicts happening around the world are harming the Global South. He also supported the idea of a rule-based Indo-Pacific region and emphasised the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the area.

“The conflicts going on in different parts of the world are having the most negative impact on the countries of the Global South. Everyone wants that whether it is Eurasia or West Asia, peace and stability should be restored as soon as possible. I come from the land of Buddha, and I have repeatedly said that this is not the era of war,” he said during his speech at the summit. 

He also said that the battlefields cannot suggest a solution as he remarked,“Solutions to problems cannot come from the battlefield. It is necessary to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and international laws. Keeping a humanitarian approach, dialogue and diplomacy will have to be given priority. Fulfilling the responsibility of Vishwa Bandhu, India will continue to contribute in every possible way in this direction.”

"We believe maritime activities should be conducted under UNCLOS, it is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation, and air space," he added. He also claimed that the Indo-Pacific area as a whole reaps from the peace, security, and stability of the South China Sea.

"Free, open, inclusive, prosperous and rule-based Indo-Pacific is important for the progress of the entire region," he remarked.