EAS summit on maritime security harps on unity

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Bhubaneswar: The East Asia Summit (EAS) on Maritime Security and Cooperation started here Friday with 52 delegates from 16 countries attending the three-day programme. The delegates will discuss ways and means to strengthen regional peace, put in place proper security measures to prevent human and drug trafficking and ways to increase prosperity among the member countries.
The countries participating in the summit are Australia, Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that to deal insecurities associated with maritime terrorism and crimes including trafficking of humans and drugs and arms, all the East Asian countries should work together.
“The regional countries should work together to deal with maritime terrorism, maritime crimes, including trafficking of humans and drugs; the smuggling of small arms, other light weapons and weapons of mass destruction,” Pradhan said.
“The ASEAN-India Maritime Transport Agreement (AIMTA), which is presently under negotiation, would help improve access to maritime services through greater transparency in maritime regulations, policies and practices of trading partners; facilitating the flow of commercial goods at sea and at ports,” the Minister added.
Among others, Anurag Bhushan, the joint-secretary (ASEAN, ML) asserted on the importance of proper utilisation of ocean resources as well as ensuring safety of ships plying on maritime sea lanes. “All the countries must cooperate to keep the oceans free for navigation implementing proper security measures. This will then give a huge boost to trade and commerce,” stated Bhushan.