Accompanied by Mozambique’s Transport Minister, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday boarded a ‘Made in India’ train in the country’s capital Maputo. Jaishankar appreciated Rahul Mithal, chief managing director of infrastructure company Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) for attending the visit.
Sharing his experience, Jaishankar wrote on Twitter, “Ride on the ‘Made in India’ train from Maputo to Machava with Mozambique’s Transport Minister Mateus Magala. Appreciate RITES CMD Rahul Mithal for joining the journey. “
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EAM also held a press conference on the moving train along with Mozambique’s Transport Minister Mateus Magala. Jaishankar tweeted, “A unique experience: Holding a press conference on a moving train.” During his visit to Mozambique, Jaishankar also visited a temple in Maputo and interacted with the Indian community there.
Took a ride on a ‘Made in India’ train from Maputo to Machawa with Mozambique’s Transport Minister Mateus Magala.
Appreciate Rahul Mittal, CMD RITES for joining us in this journey. @Ashwini Vaishnav pic.twitter.com/NhfIGwGHQjDr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023
“Offered prayers at Shri Vishvambhar Mahadev Temple in Maputo this evening. It was a pleasure to interact with the Indian community there,” the External Affairs Minister wrote on Twitter.
Meeting representatives of the Indian community and friends of India at a reception hosted by the High Commissioner in Maputo on Thursday evening, Jaishankar underlined the importance of the time-tested and historic ties between the two countries.
During a press conference in Maputo on Thursday, the External Affairs Minister recalled the visit of Mozambique’s Assembly Speaker Esperanca Bias to India last year. He said the two “reviewed our political cooperation and economic cooperation. He urged me to further expand our bilateral partnership. That is what I will do in the next two days.”
Jaishankar said that it is important for India and Mozambique to have “regular parliamentary exchanges, and it is fitting that I begin my visit by coming to the National Assembly.”
“This is a very good start to the journey and I am sure there will be many more important conversations over the next few days,” he added.
Asked whether BRICS is considering trading their currencies, EAM said: “Trade agreement is something that different countries are discussing. It is not something that we discuss within BRICS. Different countries have different positions on this matter.”
Jaishankar reached Maputo in Mozambique on Thursday. He was given a warm Mozambican welcome. Mozambique is a country in Southeastern Africa. Jaishankar tweeted on Thursday: “Arrived in Maputo to an energetic Mozambican welcome. Warm welcome by Manuel Jose Goncalves, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
He further wrote, “The producers look forward to discussions.”