External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said that India has been able to focus attention on the most pressing challenges faced by humanity, during its G20 Presidency. He said, emphasis has been laid on Mission LIFE for empowering climate-friendly lifestyles, popularization of millet to address the challenge of food security, and use of technology to transform the lives of people. The Minister today made a statement on the latest developments in India's foreign policy in the Rajya Sabha amid opposition protest.
Highlighting the achievements made in the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States of America, Dr. Jaishankar said, both countries made several agreements to boost their relationship in the defence, technology, space, and economic sector. He said both sides agreed to augment technology cooperation, especially through the initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies focusing on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, quantum, and telecom.
He said, under a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, the defense industries and startups of both countries announced their intent to engage in co-production and other activities. He said, Indian Space Research Organisation signed the Artemis Accords with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration for cooperation in civil exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes. He added that NASA and ISRO announced that they would cooperate in human space flight and launch a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today criticized the opposition for ruckus in the Rajya Sabha when he was making a statement on the latest development in India's foreign policy. Talking to media outside Parliament, he said he wanted to inform the House of the developments made in the past months but the Opposition was not ready to listen. He added that it seemed that they wanted to criticise every achievement of the country. The Minister said Foreign Policy is an area where we usually work together. Dr. Jaishankar also said when it comes to national interest, politics should be set aside.
