SINQUERIM: The Indian Navy is keen on building cooperative partnerships with friendly nations of the

region to develop solutions to meet rising maritime challenges, said Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh at the Goa Maritime Conclave.

"Challenges you have seen are mainly issues of piracy, the drug trafficking,

and even disasters that are taking place because of

," Singh said.

The naval chief said that there was a need for Indian ocean region nations to develop "regional solutions for regional challenges" and offered "mutual respect" for all nations.

National Security Advisor

was present for the second edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) which is organised by the Indian Navy'

at Goa.

"We would like to bind

and South East Asia," said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval after stating that cooperation between friendly nations can catalyze economic growth.

Naval leaders from Maldives, Singapore, Bangladesh,

and other littoral nations are participating in the event.

"Maldives is vulnerable to climate change. They are very much part of this issue. They are keen that we operate together. We are also looking at standard operating procedure so that if any disaster takes place all the navies of neighbouring countries can join together, they know how to operate together and pull the resources to help them out," said Singh.

The Navy chief said that standard operating procedures exist but need to be practised regularly.