External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held meetings with his counterparts from Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman’s capital Muscat yesterday. During his meeting with his Mauritian counterpart Dhananjay Ritish Ramful, Dr. Jaishankar emphasised upon the commitment to further strengthen “special bonds of friendship” between the two nations. It was Dr. Jaishankar’s first meeting with Ramful. The External Affairs Minister, during his meeting with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Khaleel, discussed many facets of India-Maldives cooperation. With his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath, Dr. Jaishankar discussed wide-ranging cooperation between the two nations. He also expressed India’s commitment to the economic recovery and progress of Sri Lanka.
       

During his visit to Oman, Jaishankar also met his counterparts from Oman, Brunei and Iran on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference. He also held a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain. The 8th Indian Ocean Conference is being organised by the India Foundation in association with Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Muscat on February 16-17, 2025.