China map row: PM call to respect national borders

Amid the row over China’s map that riled India and several other neighbours, including Japan, PM Narendra Modi said at the East Asia Summit that it was imperative to adhere fully to international laws and that everyone’s commitment and efforts were necessary to strengthen the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

Recalling his message that today’s era is not of war, Modisaid dialogue and diplomacy were the only path to resolution of disputes.

Apart from the East Asia Summit, where China was represented by PremierLi Qiang, Modi also attended the India-Asean summit where he said this was going to be Asia’s century and laid out a 12-point plan to intensify cooperation with member-states.“The present global landscape is surrounded by… uncertainties. Terrorism, extremism and geopolitical conflicts are big challenges… Multilateralism and rules-based international order are essential in countering these,” Modi said at the East Asia Summit, a premier Indo-Pacific forum for strategic dialogue.