Addressing the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the significance of an open and free Indo-Pacific. PM Modi co-chaired the summit along with the PM of Papua New Guinea.Â
The summit was held at a time of tense political environment wherein China is looking for scope to extend its political and diplomatic influence in the region. It signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022.Â
- PM Modi’s Remarks
- India’s Act East Policy
- FIPIC
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit at APEC Haus, Port Moresby on Monday, May 22, 2024. (Photo: AFP)Â
PM Modiâs Remarks
In his address PM Modi spoke about the importance of multilateralism and respect for and adherence to the sovereignty and integrity of every country. He stated that the QUAD is working towards it. He reinstated Indiaâs support for capacity-building in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
He held talks with alumni of the Indian Technical and economic cooperation (IPEC) program from the 14 countries on the sidelines of the FIPIC-3 Summit. He remarked that India will continue to assist the developmental goals of the PICs, which are under South-South cooperation, and help them in all possible ways.Â
He expressed Indiaâs willingness to share its abilities in the spheres of space technology, digital technology, environment, food security, healthcare, climate change and preservation, and other sectors as well.
He also asserted the need for reforms in international institutions and the priority of global south representation in the United Nations Security Council.Â
PM Modi declared a 12-step program to push forward Indiaâs cooperation with the PICs. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the program will ensure the realization of the developmental aspirations of the people of the region and bring fruition to the shared vision of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
PM Modi arriving at Papua New Guinea for the Summit (Source: PTI)Â
Indiaâs Act East Policy
Indiaâs involvement with the 14 Pacific Island nations is a part of Indiaâs Act East Policy. India’s Act East Policy, launched in November 2014 was introduced as a step-up of the former Look East Policy.Â
It concentrates on the extended neighborhood in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy was initially formulated as an diplomatic and economic initiative, which overtime has developed political, strategic, and cultural ambit along with the introduction of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation.
The aim of Act East Policy is to advance economic and cultural ties and extend strategic relations with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous cooperation and engagement at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.
FIPIC
The FIPIC was launched as a initiative in Fiji in November 2014.
The Forum comprises 14 island countries. These include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Despite these countries having relatively small land mass and their distance from India, many of them have large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and showcase major scope for effective cooperation in vital areas.
India has mostly focused on the Indian Ocean region, where it seeks to play a dominant role while protecting its multifaceted economic and political interests. The FIPIC initiative marks a major move towards the expansion of India’s involvement in the Pacific region.
The two previous summits of the FIPIC took place in Fiji November 2014 and in Jaipur in August 2015 respectively.
