Stockholm: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed a range of matters, including the Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine war, during his meetings here with his counterparts from France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Jaishankar arrived in Stockholm on Saturday on a three-day visit to Sweden to participate in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF). He met several of his counterparts on Saturday on the sidelines of EIPMF.
Jaishankar tweeted, “It was a pleasure to meet French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. As excited as PM Narendra Modi to make his Bastille Day visit a success. Exchanged views on Indo-Pacific and G-20.” Prime Minister Modi will attend the Bastille Day celebrations in France on July 14 as a special guest. French President Emmanuel Macron had sent an invitation to Modi to attend the parade in Paris.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces will also participate in the parade along with their French counterparts. Jaishankar also met Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and signed agreements on mobility and migration. Jaishankar tweeted, “Had a warm and productive discussion with my friend and Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg. Signed agreements on mobility and migration. Discussed global issues, especially Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.” In the first meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahabib, Jaishankar agreed to take forward bilateral ties and multilateral cooperation.
He also exchanged views with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov and discussed the strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties. Jaishankar discussed mobility and tourism with Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos. He tweeted, “Nice to meet Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos. We looked at the possibility of increasing connectivity. Talked about mobility and tourism. Also discussed our multilateral cooperation. Jaishankar also met Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties amid the Ukraine dispute.
He tweeted, “Had a good meeting with the Foreign Minister of Latvia on the sidelines of the EU-India Pacific Ministerial Forum. Talked on strengthening our bilateral ties and the outcome of the Ukraine conflict. Also discussed their mutual multilateral cooperation. Jaishankar tweeted after meeting Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabriels Landserbigs, “Had a good conversation on bilateral cooperation and Indo-Pacific with Foreign Minister Landserbigs of Lithuania.”
Jaishankar thanked his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Orescu for his cooperation in ‘Operation Ganga’, a campaign to bring back all Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine. He tweeted, “Interacted with the Foreign Minister of Romania on the sidelines of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. Thanked him for his cooperation in ‘Operation Ganga’. Defense and energy cooperation were discussed. It was beneficial to know his perspective on the region.” Jaishankar arrived in Sweden from Bangladesh, where he addressed the sixth Indian Ocean Conference on Friday.
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