External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings in New York on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly, focusing on trade, investment, climate change, technology and geopolitical issues. Dr Jaishankar met his Netherlands counterpart Tom Berendsen and discussed the Ukraine conflict and followed up on commitments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands earlier this year.
He also met Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and discussed geopolitical and technological challenges and bilateral cooperation with the European Union.
In separate bilateral meetings, Dr Jaishankar held talks with Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tomaž Kajzer on trade and investment opportunities linked to the proposed India-EU free trade agreement, along with energy, manufacturing, digital connectivity, defense and multilateral cooperation.
At the India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Mr. Jaishankar stressed historical and developmental ties and highlighted India’s support for health care, quick-impact projects, training and renewable energy in the Caribbean. He called for deeper cooperation in economic, digital and mobility sectors.
Mr. Jaishankar also highlighted India’s cooperation with Pacific island countries on climate resilience, space, sustainable coastal and ocean research. He said India was ready to help address the effects of El Niño and encouraged Pacific nations to join the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
He also chaired the India-Pacific Islands Forum (FIPIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming India’s demand-driven, development-oriented and people-centric approach to the Pacific. He highlighted India’s support for the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and outlined progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Action Plan covering health care, renewable energy, connectivity, technology and capacity building.
With Andorra’s Foreign Minister Imma Tor Faus to discuss trade and investment, climate change, artificial intelligence and multilateral cooperation.
