External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will host the Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on 19th and 20th of October in Mumbai. Briefing media in New Delhi this afternoon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit of the UAE Foreign Minister will be an opportunity to review all facets of bilateral cooperation under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides will assess and take forward initiatives in the areas of energy, trade and investments, fintech, defence and connectivity.
The spokesperson said the External Affairs Minister will also hold talks with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio on 20th of this month in Mumbai. Dr Jaishankar will attend the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of US as the guest of honour. Mr Jaiswal said the forthcoming visit of US Secretary of State will provide an opportunity for both sides to review India-US relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. He further stated that discussions are expected to cover key areas of bilateral cooperation, including energy, trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, and other areas of mutual interest. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments. The visit will provide an opportunity to sustain the high-level engagement between the two countries and advance their shared priorities.
Mr Jaiswal further stated that, over the past decade, India has hosted foreign dignitaries in various cities across the country. He cited examples, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Vadodara, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ahmedabad, and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi. He also noted that the External Affairs Minister had hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa, Botswana’s Foreign Minister in Kevadia, and the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar.
Commenting on recent remarks by US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the spokesperson said India considered the comments unwarranted and uninformed, amounting to interference in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy. He added that such an approach undermined democracy itself.
On India-US trade negotiations, the spokesperson said both sides remained engaged and were working towards the early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement.
Responding to a query about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Canada, Mr Jaiswal said the dates were still under discussion and would be announced at the appropriate time.
The spokesperson said that, at the request of the Government of the Maldives, India has approved the first rollover of the 3,000-crore-rupee currency swap arrangement, effective from 23rd of October. The arrangement was established under an agreement signed in October 2024. Mr Jaiswal added that the latest rollover would contribute to the financial stability of the Maldives.
