External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and also met leaders of several Commonwealth countries and their counterparts to discuss bilateral ties and geopolitical trends.
Jaishankar arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day visit to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit on June 24-25.
“It is a pleasure to meet the Prime Minister of Singapore @leehsienloong. An interesting discussion on geopolitical trends,” he said in a tweet.
Glad to meet PM @leehsienloong of Singapore.
An interesting discussion on geopolitical trends. pic.twitter.com/iq5aQp7Yim
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 24 June 2022
Jaishankar also met Presidents of Maldives and Uganda Ibrahim Solih and Yoweri Museveni and discussed comprehensive bilateral cooperation with the two leaders.
He also met his counterparts from the UK, Namibia, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and Cyprus and discussed a range of regional and global issues with them.
“Great to catch up with my British counterpart Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Always useful to exchange notes on the state of the world,” he said in a tweet.
Nice to meet my British counterpart Foreign Secretary @trussliz,
Always useful to exchange notes on the state of the world. pic.twitter.com/XlRxWLYrwJ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 24 June 2022
“Good meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and Min. International K. Relationship Netumbo Nandi Nadaitvah. We noted growing cooperation in health, IT, defense and education. Discussed possibilities in fintech and biodiversity. I look forward to welcoming him in New Delhi.”
Had a good meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Namibia. International K. Relationship Netumbo Nandi Nadaitvah.
We noted growing cooperation in health, IT, defense and education.
Discussed possibilities in fintech and biodiversity.
Looking forward to welcoming him in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/3pvkW9aLgh
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 24 June 2022
“It was a real pleasure talking to FM @kaminajsmith from Jamaica. Our close bilateral ties were underlined by the recent visit of the President of India. Our cooperation extends to the multilateral sector including the Commonwealth,” Jaishankar said in a series of tweets.
“Heartfelt delight to hear from @Prof_DJFrancis of Sierra Leone still high regard for India’s peacekeeping contribution. Our cooperation on these foundations has steadily increased, including mineral prospecting, agriculture, education and health,” he said of his meeting with Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister David John Francis.
Jaishankar said he was delighted to meet his friend and Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kassoulides to take stock of the progress of both the countries.
“India and Cyprus enjoy a special, time-tested friendship. We share similar perspectives on many regional and global issues. Our bilateral cooperation continues to grow from strength to strength.”
The External Affairs Minister also met UN General Assembly President Abdullah Shahid and described his leadership at the UNGA as “admirable”.
good to see @UN_PGA @Adulla_Shahid Feather @CHOGM2022,
His leadership in UNGA is commendable. pic.twitter.com/MucIqQHf3l
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 24 June 2022
Prime Minister Modi visited Rwanda in July 2018. This was a historic visit as it was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to an East African country.
According to the website of the High Commission of India in Rwanda, there are about 3,000 Indian citizens and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) in Rwanda. Rwanda’s only sugar refinery, the country’s only modern textile mill as well as a soap and cosmetic factory owned by PIO.
Investments from India are made in the tea sector by Lakshmi Tea, a Kolkata-based company based in Assam. TVS Motorbikes are quite popular in Rwanda. Airtel Rwanda is one of the major players in the telecom sector in Rwanda. Sahasra Lighting is also a major player in the supply of LED Lighting and Solar Panels.
The theme of the 26th CHOGM Summit is: “Providing a Shared Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”.
The leaders of Commonwealth member states are scheduled to deliberate on issues of contemporary relevance including global challenges such as climate change, food security, health issues.
They are expected to adopt the following four outcome documents: CHOGM releases; Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform; Declaration on Sustainable Urbanization and Commonwealth Living Lands Charter: A Commonwealth Call to Action (Call) on Living Lands, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
During the visit, Jaishankar is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Commonwealth member countries and other visiting dignitaries.
India is also one of the largest contributors to the Commonwealth and has assisted the organization with technical assistance and capacity building.
In 2018, India announced the creation of the Commonwealth Window, which dedicates USD 50 million to development projects and aid to the developing countries of the Commonwealth.
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