Indian 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. The meetings focused on bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and multilateral issues. Jaishankar shared details of his meeting with Cassis, stating that they reviewed the progress in their economic relationship following the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.
Jaishankar's meeting with Cassis covered the strengthening economic ties between India and Switzerland, with the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement coming into effect. The agreement aims to expand trade and investment ties between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in their economic relationship.
Jaishankar also met with Nauru President David Adeang during the UNGA high-level week. He appreciated the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between India and Nauru. Jaishankar stated that India remains strongly committed to Nauru as a development partner. The meeting was part of Jaishankar's diplomatic engagements during the UNGA week, as India seeks to strengthen partnerships across regions and advance cooperation in multilateral forums.
Earlier, Jaishankar attended the first Visegrad Group (V4) and India Foreign Ministers' Meeting, involving Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The meeting aimed to deepen cooperation in political, economic, technology, defense, education, and people-to-people ties between India and the V4 countries. Jaishankar announced that the sides agreed to establish an annual business forum and hold annual meetings of foreign ministers.
Discussions between Jaishankar and the V4 countries covered various areas, including technology and innovation, defense, space, connectivity, and mobility. The sides also discussed major global issues, including the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Gulf. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar stated that the V4 countries supported India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
The meetings formed part of Jaishankar's diplomatic engagements during the UNGA week, as India seeks to strengthen partnerships across regions and advance cooperation in multilateral forums. India is actively engaging with countries and groups to promote its interests and contribute to global decision-making processes. Jaishankar's meetings with Cassis and Adeang demonstrated India's commitment to fostering strong relationships with countries from different regions.
The diplomatic engagements by Jaishankar during the UNGA week reflect India's proactive approach to international diplomacy. By engaging with countries and groups, India aims to promote its interests, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to global decision-making processes. The meetings with Cassis and Adeang, as well as the V4 countries, demonstrate India's commitment to fostering strong relationships and advancing cooperation in multilateral forums.
Key points
- India and Switzerland reviewed the progress in their economic relationship following the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.
- Jaishankar met with Nauru President David Adeang and appreciated the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between India and Nauru.
- India and the V4 countries agreed to deepen cooperation in political, economic, technology, defense, education, and people-to-people ties.
