Phnom Penh: While security cooperation and balancing China will be on the agenda as India’s Vice President Hamid Ansari reached Phnom Penh for a two day visit to Cambodia, New Delhi is also aiming to strengthen its strategic imprint in the region.
Interacting with the media on board Air India One, the diplomat turned Indian Vice President was at his diplomatic best as he said that there is space for everyone in the region. However, when he was asked on the Chinese aggressive stance in the South China Sea he was candid, “Our position is that the UN convention on the laws of the sea should be respected.”
This is a clear sign of New Delhi’s position in strong sync with a lot of countries who have been resenting Beijing’s aggressive stance in the region.
India’s Vice President Hamid Ansari’s visit to Cambodia and Laos is in a bid to boost strategic acting East Policy of New Delhi and reinforcing strategic ties.
During his four-day trip, he will seek to signal India’s continued commitment to high level exchanges with these countries. The trip also helps balance China’s attempts to carve an anti-India axis in the region and slowly but steadily India is expanding its circle of friends.
His official visit to Cambodia started on Tuesday and will be wrapped up on September 17 at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.