Jaishankar said there are some global challenges that deserve regional consideration as well.
“Chief among them are climate action and counter-terrorism. The universality of these concerns is now well recognised. It is essential that our dialogue aims to encourage common positions,” he said.
The Indian minister said that they should also be mindful of the dangers to the social fabric posed by extremism and fundamentalism while taking advantage of democratic openness. “The cost of not doing so is also painfully clear to all of us today.”
He said the Indian Ocean nations are among those leading the rise of Asia and the re-emergence of Africa.
Jaishankar said these nations have a responsibility to shape the narrative today about values, practices and purity.
“It is essential that their culture, history and traditions are presented to the world. If we compare the relative weight of coastlines, the Indian Ocean still has to play catch-up. Our challenge, indeed our responsibility is that we speed up that process,” he said.