External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar today attended the working session of the informal meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Gymnich) in Cyprus. The External Affairs Ministry said the discussions focused on relevant policy issues of shared interest, in particular the geopolitical impact of developments in West Asia and the wider region.

 

On the sidelines of the Gymnich meeting, Dr Jaishankar held structured bilateral meetings with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, José Manuel Albares Bueno. The Ministry said these meetings and his interactions with other European Union Ministers provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on West Asia, the Ukraine conflict, India-EU cooperation, bilateral relations and wider regional developments.

 

Dr Jaishankar also called on the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in Nicosia. The discussions reviewed the strong momentum in India-Cyprus relations following the landmark State Visit of President Christodoulides to India last week, during which the two countries elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. They also discussed further strengthening cooperation in areas including trade and investment, connectivity, defence and security, technology, innovation and people-to-people ties.