Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in his maiden speech at the ASEAN-India Summit here, Modi said his government was laying stress on infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, agriculture, skill development, urban renewal and smart cities.
“Make in India is a new mission. I invite you to this new environment in India. Indian companies are also keen to invest in and trade with ASEAN,” he said. On the issue of maritime trade and passage, a touchy subject in the Southeast Asian region especially in the context of China’s growing assertiveness over the South China Sea, Modi said everyone has the responsibility to follow international law and norms on maritime issues, as is done in the realm of air passage.
“In future, we will also need this in space,” he said. Referring to the South China Sea, he said that for peace and stability, everyone should follow international norms and law.
