External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed regional and global issues with his foreign counterparts as he held a series of bilateral meetings on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session in New York.
Mr Jaishankar arrived in New York City on Sunday, leading the Indian delegation for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Mr Jaishankar will address world leaders at the General Debate from the UNGA podium on September 26.
His engagements commenced with a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. In a social media post Mr Jaishankar said the regular meetings and telecons enable both countries to maintain the momentum of Special Global Strategic Partnership.
He said that during the meeting, regional and global issues, specifically the Ukraine and Gulf crises, were discussed. Both the leaders also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the reform of UN Security Council.
The External Affairs Minister also held a meeting with Ecuador Foreign Minister Roberto Kury to strengthen economic ties, including energy and pharmaceuticals, mobility, training of personnel, development partnership and cooperation in multilateral fora, including the United Nations.
Following his meeting with Slovakia Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, the External Affairs Minister said that besides discussing the bilateral agenda, they also touched upon ways to deepen our multilateral cooperation.
Mr. Jaishankar also held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Hungary Anita Orban. Both the leaders have agreed to work together to deepen ties to advance the bilateral strategic partnership.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held separate meetings with Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and Nauru President David Adeang on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, discussing bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and multilateral issues.
Sharing details of his meeting on a social media post , Mr Jaishankar said the two sides reviewed the progress in their economic relationship following the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.
India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as part of efforts to expand trade and investment ties with the grouping.
Earlier, Jaishankar attended the first Visegrád Group (V4) and India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, involving Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Following the meeting, he said India and the V4 countries had agreed to deepen cooperation in political, economic, technology, defence, education and people-to-people ties.
The sides also agreed to establish an annual business forum and hold annual meetings of foreign ministers.
Mr Jaishankar said discussions with the V4 countries covered technology and innovation, defence, space, connectivity and mobility, along with major global issues including the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Gulf.
