New Delhi: Taking advantage of the presence of key global players and Foreign Ministers of many countries for the G20 Meeting of Foreign Ministers, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on March 1 held a series of meetings with his counterparts.
Among the important ones, Dr S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and G20 issues.
“A wide ranging discussion with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on #G20FMM sidelines. Exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and G20 issues,” he tweeted.
A wide ranging discussion with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on #G20FMM sidelines.
Exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and G20 issues. pic.twitter.com/czRgKNo00E
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 1, 2023
The Russian Minister’s presence at the meeting is crucial as the ongoing conflict with Ukraine will be prominent in deliberations. On several occasions, India has made it clear that it has a ‘relationship’ with Russia and will continue to cherish that.
Dr S Jaishankar also met the Foreign Minister of Argentina, Santiago Cafiero.
“India and Argentina have a similar approach to G20 issues,” he penned on the micro-blogging site.
“Trade has expanded significantly even as defence cooperation unfolds. Our nuclear partnership has also been mutually beneficial,” EAM Jaishankar wrote.
After meeting South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor, Dr Jaishankar tweeted: “Thanked her for South Africa’s contribution in enhancing India’s biodiversity by sending Cheethas”.
Thanked her for South Africa’s contribution in enhancing India’s biodiversity by sending Cheethas.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 1, 2023
During his meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, the External Affairs Minister underlined the country’s strong commitment to the Global South and the interests of the African Union.
Both the leaders noted recent developments in bilateral cooperation, especially in educational exchanges and welcomed direct flights between the two countries. Dr Jaishankar took up the MV Heroic Idun issue and pressed for the early repatriation of crew members.
Dr Jaishankar also met European Union’s high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles. Their conversation focused on the G20 agenda and the Ukraine conflict.
Dr Jaishankar also met his Mexico counterpart, Marcelo Ebrard. They noted the strong multilateral cooperation and discussed the G20 agenda. He welcomed the opening of the Mexican Consulate in Mumbai.
Their discussion focused on issues related to growth and development. They also exchanged ideas on mobility, sustainability and innovation. Dr Jaishankar said bilateral ties had progressed significantly.
Dr Jaishankar also met with the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra. He said discussions were held on technology, mobility and innovation. He said both countries shared their perspectives on Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.
The G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on March 1 and 2 is likely to be stormy as the high profile mega event will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and also Foreign Ministers of Russia and China Sergey Lavrov and Qin Gang, respectively.
On Twitter, Dr Jaishankar also wrote: “At the #G20FMM, we welcomed our guests today evening with a performance that highlighted the richness of Indian culture. The performance centered on the festival of Holi”.
At the #G20FMM, we welcomed our guests today evening with a performance that highlighted the richness of Indian culture.
The performance centered on the festival of Holi. pic.twitter.com/iKi5NYBbLj
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 1, 2023
During the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on March 2, the External Affairs Minister will be chairing two sessions of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
“The first session will focus on three principal subitems: first of them relating to multilateralism; second, something which is very crucial for the developing world, the issues related to food and energy security; and the third, the larger question of templates of development cooperation, “Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters.
He also stated that the second session would focus on four or five other key issues relevant to the developing world and the global community as a whole.
“One of them would focus on new and emerging threats. This would include, naturally, the challenges of countering terrorism, counter narcotics. On the more development oriented considerations, that second session would also focus on global skill mapping, how the G20 can pool together its efforts to do global skill mapping, focus on global talent pool,” Vinay Kwatra said.
