Emphasising the economic importance of the Indian Ocean, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that nurturing a climate of peace and stability in this region is an important priority for India’s foreign policy.
External Affairs Minister said economic prosperity and maritime security go hand-in-hand. Mrs Swaraj’s comments assume significance in the wake of China increasing its footprints in the Indian Ocean.
Mrs Swaraj is in Vietnam on the first leg of her four-day two-nation tour which aims at deepening India’s strategic cooperation with Vietnam and Cambodia — the key countries in the ASEAN region.