Colombo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said countries in the Indian Ocean are responsible for its peace, stability and prosperity as she underlined the need to keep the sea lanes safe and secure. At the 2nd Indian Ocean Conference in Colombo, Ms Swaraj said if the revitalised maritime economy of the Indian Ocean region is to be a force for global economic growth, it is essential that the waters remain peaceful.
"It is imperative too, that all stakeholders abide by a rules-based global order," she said.
The Indian Ocean is one of the most critical maritime transportation links in the world today, with one lakh ships a year passing through these waters carrying about half of the world's container shipments, one-third of the world's bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of oil shipments.
For India, she said, the Indian Ocean is of vital importance -- the country has an extensive coastline of 7,500 kilometres and 90 per cent of India's trade by volume and almost all oil imports come via sea route.
Apart from establishing a naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, China is currently building ports in Sri Lanka's Hambantota and Pakistan's Gwadar. Chinese ships and submarines have appeared more frequently in the Indian Ocean in recent years.
She said India has been the "first responder" to calls of assistance -- providing relief supplies and medical aid when flood hit Sri Lanka in June.
"It is imperative too, that all stakeholders abide by a rules-based global order," she said.
The Indian Ocean is one of the most critical maritime transportation links in the world today, with one lakh ships a year passing through these waters carrying about half of the world's container shipments, one-third of the world's bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of oil shipments.
For India, she said, the Indian Ocean is of vital importance -- the country has an extensive coastline of 7,500 kilometres and 90 per cent of India's trade by volume and almost all oil imports come via sea route.
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Apart from establishing a naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, China is currently building ports in Sri Lanka's Hambantota and Pakistan's Gwadar. Chinese ships and submarines have appeared more frequently in the Indian Ocean in recent years.
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She said India has been the "first responder" to calls of assistance -- providing relief supplies and medical aid when flood hit Sri Lanka in June.
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