New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts in New York as the high-level session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly got underway.
Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday to lead the Indian delegation at the UN General Assembly. His diplomatic engagements began with a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, where the two sides discussed a range of regional and global developments.
The discussions included the ongoing Ukraine crisis and developments in the Gulf region. The two ministers also exchanged views on multilateral matters, including the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council.
Jaishankar later met Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Roberto Kury, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. Energy, pharmaceuticals, mobility, personnel training and development partnerships were among the areas discussed.
Cooperation through multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, also featured in the talks.
During his meeting with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Jaishankar discussed the bilateral relationship as well as opportunities to expand cooperation on international and multilateral issues.
He also held his first meeting with Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban. The two sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties and advancing their strategic partnership.
Jaishankar’s meetings come as world leaders gather in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session, with major international conflicts and multilateral reforms expected to remain key issues during the high-level discussions.
The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to address the General Debate at the UN General Assembly on September 26, where he will present India’s views on major global and regional developments.
