Jaishankar said there is a recognition that a limited group of cynics that are ‘reluctant’ to UNSC reform efforts, but India needs to stay focused…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said reforming the chronically deadlocked Security Council is not an easy process, however, it can not be denied forever.
Even though the US has encouraged India in favour of SC reform in recent weeks, Jaishankar said UNSC reform is a collective effort.
“I think it’s a collective effort that members of the UN have to make and we have been pressing the reform effort,” he said while addressing a press conference in Washington.
Jaishankar said there is a recognition that a limited group of cynics that are ‘reluctant’ to UNSC reform efforts, but India needs to stay focused.
“You also know where the reluctance comes from, let’s stay focused on it. We have never thought that it was an easy process, but we do believe that the need for reform cannot be denied forever,” Jaishankar told reporters.
As part of the US push to strengthen the United Nations, US President Joe Biden in a speech at the General Assembly reiterated his commitment to reforming the UN Security Council.
Biden said he believes the time has come for the institution to become more inclusive so that it can better respond to the needs of today’s world “My understanding is that the position that President Biden put forward is the most explicit and specific articulation of the US support for reform of the UN including the Security Council,” Jaishankar told reporters.
“How this advances where it goes, I think depends on all of us, the members of the UN, and where we take it, it’s not it’s not the responsibility of a single country, however powerful,” Jaishankar added.
In the recently concluded UNGA, the issue of UN reforms and India’s Security Council bid was backed by a number of countries.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa called for UNSC reform that should include representation of India, Brazil and the African continent at the UN Security Council.
Addressing the 77th session of the UNGA, Costa advocated for a Security Council that incorporates a comprehensive view of security and gives fair representation to small countries. “We need a representative, agile and functional security council that is able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century without being paralyzed and whose actions are scrutinised by the other members of the United Nations,” he said.
In his UNGA address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov too backed India for becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“We see prospective of making Security Council more democratic via representation of countries from Africa, Asia & Latin America. India and Brazil, in particular, are key international actors and should be counted for permanent membership in the council,” he said. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister shared with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the “deep anxieties” in the global South on fuel, food, and fertilizers…reports Asian Lite News
The Ukraine conflict and the prospect of instability in the Indo-Pacific dominated talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken when they met in Washington.
Jaishankar, who spent the last few days meeting “about half the delegations” on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, shared with Blinken the “deep anxieties” in the global South on fuel, food, and fertilizers.
“A common concern among them was the anxiety about global economic volatility, an anxiety about sharply increased energy prices, of food inflation and food availability, of fertilizers which will impact food next year, of disrupted trade, of shipping, of insurance, of air-land movements, of travel,” said the External Affairs Minister (EAM).
Blinken, in particular, mentioned the “today’s era is not of war” message that Prime Minister Modi delivered in Uzbekistan recently and also Jaishankar’s speech at the UNGA where he said that “We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles”.
“I really want to emphasize what Prime Minister Modi said, because I think he captured, as well as anyone I’ve heard, fundamentally what this moment is about. As he said, this is not an era, this is not a time for war. We could not agree more,” said the US Secretary of State.
Spotlighting the Indo-US commitment to address the global volatility which has arisen from the Covid, conflicts and climate events, Jaishankar stressed that both countries have a strong interest in encouraging more resilient and reliable supply chains. This, said the EAM, requires policy decisions as well as practical measures involving the business community.
“When it comes to critical and emerging technologies, we both see the value of expanding trusted research. Our national security, our economic security, our technology security are all enhanced by closer collaboration. It is also in our mutual interest to facilitate the development and mobility of talent,” he said.
All these issues and more, the minister revealed, were evaluated not just in the bilateral context, but also from the perspective of the Quad and the I2U2 as both New Delhi and Washington remained keen to move forward on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Jaishankar emphasised that India values its close cooperation with the US which is visible across the length and breadth of the Indo-Pacific and beyond but has very stong convergences in the subcontinent.
“It is essential that democracy, pluralism, progress, development and prosperity are nurtured. Conversely, we must counter radicalization, extremism and fundamentalism. India is widening its international footprint and there are many more regions where we will be intersecting with American interests. It is to our mutual benefit that this be a complementary process,” he stated.
In Washington, Jaishankar has spent the past two days meeting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.
Raimondo, while discussing the US-India commercial relationship, welcomed India’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Both agreed that the CEO Forum and the India-US Commercial Dialogue are key opportunities to strengthen the commercial relationship and to advance progress on issues relevant to both economies.
At the Pentagon, Jaishankar and Austin reviewed “priority lines of effort” to deepen bilateral defence cooperation as both countries progress toward a more advanced stage in their partnership.
Besides discussing developments in East Asia, the Indian Ocean Region, and the global reverberations of the Ukraine crisis, they also discussed new opportunities for bilateral defence industrial cooperation in support of India’s contributions as a regional security provider.
An open and productive discussion today with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken .
“The two leaders underscored the value of the deepening collaboration between the United States, India, Australia, Japan, and European partners. In this context, the United States looks forward to working with India and like-minded partners to promote security, prosperity, and transparency throughout the region, including through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder.
Last night at the White House, Jaishankar met US NSA Jake Sullivan to review progress in the India-US strategic partnership and exchange views on global and regional priorities, including the implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its impact on food and energy insecurity around the world.
US also said that it is looking forward to India’s G20 presidency and advancing a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The External Affairs Minister will be attending the annual high-level meetings of the UN General Assembly, meeting counterparts in bilaterals and multilaterals like BRICS, G-4, IBSA and SAARC…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began his 10-day tour of the United States that will be marked by another attempt to infuse new life into the stalled UN Security Council reforms process and steady bilateral ties with the US rocked by differences over Ukraine and a massive upkeep package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter aircraft.
Jaishankar will spend the first and longer part of the visit in New York, attending the annual high-level meetings of the UN General Assembly and meeting counterparts in bilaterals and multilaterals such as the BRICS (with Brazil, China and South Africa), G-4 (with Japan, German and Brazil), IBSA (with Brazil and South Africa) and SAARC (with all other south Asian countries).
The minister will head out to Washington DC on September 25 for the second and last leg of the tour for bilateral meetings, including with his counterpart Antony Blinken and other senior officials of the Joe Biden administration. He will also meet industry leaders and Indian Americans, some of whom have felt disappointed by New Delhi’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The highlights of Jaishankar’s UNGA meetings will be his address to a group of developing countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Small Island called L69, which is focussed on the reform of the UN Security Council.
The meeting will be based on the theme “Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council”.
The UNSC reforms process has moved at a snail’s pace since formal discussions started as Intergovernmental Negotiations. The last expansion of the elite club took place in 1965 with the addition of four non-permanent seats, taking the total to 15 — five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
India, which is now serving its eighth two-year term as a non-permanent member, wants a permanent berth in the expanded council, but it has watched the process drag with mounting irritation, which shows through the stronger language used by its leaders to demand progress.
The United States is planning to put its weight behind the process at UNGA.
“We will be having discussions with our P3 colleagues (with the other two permanent members France and the United Kingdom) as well as others on the way forward,” US Ambassador to UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, had told reporters last week, adding, “The President will present a bit more on this in his speech. Secretary Blinken will also be engaging this week on the commitments we’ve made and how we see the process moving forward.”
Jaishankar may also meet for the first time — or, as is most likely — not meet his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto at the conference of SAARC ministers. The annual ritual is marked by Pakistan’s efforts to stage a showdown with the Indian delegation and minister.
In Washington, Jaishankar is scheduled to meet his counterpart Blinken and others in the backdrop of the recent differences over Ukraine and the proposed US aid package of $450 million to Pakistan to furbish its F-16s.
The US had pressed India to condemn the Russian invasion and not increase its oil purchase from Russia so as to not allow Moscow any relief from the severe economic sanctions the West has imposed.
India had done neither, not until later, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly told Russian President Vladimir Putin during their recent meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, “Today’s era is not of war.”
The remarks, which were noted approvingly by the US media, may pre-empt some of the tough discussions — “frank” exchanges, as they are invariably noted in press communiques — that could have taken place otherwise.
The Ukraine war has added an unforeseen and unwelcome wrinkle to a relationship that’s seen remarkable progress in recent years. Strategic cooperation — considered central to the relationship — has seen a sharp upswing with quick and frequent meetings of the Quad.
A US package of $450 million for Pakistan’s F-16s was seen unkindly by New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had conveyed the government’s concern in a telephone call to his counterpart Lloyd Austin. The US took no note of it in its readout of the call.
Jaishankar is a veteran of India’s ties with the US as former Ambassador to this country, and may have authored large parts of it. The next 10 days may prove to be another masterclass in diplomacy from India’s top diplomat.
India and France have a longstanding strategic partnership, strengthened by regular high-level consultations and growing convergences in various areas…reports Asian Lite News
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna who is set to embark on an official trip to India will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the 75th anniversary of Indo-French diplomatic relations and will hold in-depth bilateral consultations with the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar to cover the gamut of bilateral strategic partnership between the two nations.
The French foreign Minister will be visiting India from September 14-15 on her first official trip to India and her first bilateral visit to Asia and it marks her first visit to India as well as her first bilateral visit to Asia since assuming office, read the Ministry of External Affairs release.
The aim of Minister Colonna’s visit is to move forward with an ambitious agenda to deepen and expand the Indo-French strategic partnership ahead of its 25th anniversary next year. The visit also demonstrates France’s unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific and determination to work with India to find common solutions to global disorders.
As per the official statement, Minister Colonna will pay a call on PM Modi on September 14, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and will convey France’s full support to India’s upcoming G20 presidency following which she will exchange dialogue with EAM Jaishankar on regional and global subjects of common interest, and coordination on issues under consideration at the United Nations Security Council, which France is currently chairing.
Moreover, the French Foreign Affairs Minister will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for discussions on regional and global security issues, strengthened defence cooperation, as well as the implementation of France’s counter-terrorism cooperation with India, which is hosting the “No Money for Terror” conference this year.
Underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties in the Indo-French relationship, Minister Colonna will interact with students of Lady Shri Ram College for Women. The Minister will present the avenues for India-France student mobility, particularly as facilitated by the bilateral agreement on mobility, and lay out France’s actions to improve gender equality and promote women’s empowerment in line with its feminist foreign policy, according to the release.
As part of the visit, Colonna will travel to Mumbai for engagements with industry leaders and site visits on September 15.
India and France have a longstanding strategic partnership, strengthened by regular high-level consultations and growing convergences in various areas.
The French Foreign Minister’s visit will pave the way for further strengthening the partnership across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors, added the release.
India and France have traditionally had close and friendly relations. In 1998, the two countries entered into a Strategic Partnership which is emblematic of their convergence of views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship. The two countries have a burgeoning economic relationship. French businesses and industry have forged linkages with the Indian economy and contribute significantly to our goal to become an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Although India has a trade surplus, India-France bilateral trade remains far below potential. In the period April 2018-March 2019, India-France bilateral trade stood at 11.59 billion Euro, India’s exports to France were valued at 6.23 billion Euro meanwhile, French exports to India stood at 5.35 billion Euro.
The 18th Joint Economic Committee meeting, held virtually between the two countries on 27 November 2020, led to the signing of a bilateral ‘Fast Track Mechanism’ for investors. The first meetings were held on 16 February 2022 between E/I, Paris and the French Treasury and on 25 February 2022 between Secretary, DPIIT and the French Ambassador, in Paris and Delhi, respectively. (ANI)
During his visit, Jaishankar co-chaired with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the first ministerial meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation, established under the framework of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council…reports Asian Lite News
Emphasising the importance of strategic economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that the collaboration holds the “promise of shared growth, prosperity, stability, security and development”.
Jaishankar, who reached Riyadh on Saturday, is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia – his first as External Affairs Minister.
He addressed diplomats at the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh on Sunday, where he “underlined the importance of India-Saudi strategic relationship at a time when the world is at crossroads”.
“Our collaboration holds promise of shared growth, prosperity, stability, security and development,” he said in a tweet.
At an interaction with the Indian community on Saturday, Jaishankar hailed the ties between the two countries, and said Saudi Arabia was “very helpful” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We saw our international friendships also deliver at that point of time… Saudi Arabia was very helpful and provided supplies of oxygen. Two years of Covid are when the country was tested but we came through,” he said.
Talking about the current geopolitical situation, he said the world is facing many challenges, like rising food, oil and shipping prices due to the Ukraine crisis. “But we are still very confident that India will be the fastest growing major economy in the world this year. We will get at least 7 per cent growth,” he said.
He said India’s economic recovery after Covid was worth studying. Stating that many countries spent a lot of money during the Covid period, he said, “I would say, like a knee-jerk…they were in a hurry to respond to the crisis situation. So they did not… necessarily use their funds and resources wisely.”
During his visit, Jaishankar co-chaired with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the first ministerial meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC), established under the framework of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
“Warm and productive meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan this afternoon. Co-chaired the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Committee of the India-Saudi Partnership Council,” he tweeted.
“Discussed current global political and economic concerns. Agreed to work closely together in G20 and multilateral organisations,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest trading partner. More than 18 per cent of India’s crude oil imports are sourced from Saudi Arabia. During FY22 (April-December), bilateral trade was valued at $29.28 billion. During this period, India’s imports from Saudi Arabia were valued at $22.65 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth $6.63 billion.
The 2.2-million-strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian embassy.
Honoured to call on HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi.
Apprised him of the progress in our bilateral relations. Thank him for sharing his vision of our ties. pic.twitter.com/n98gopLuaZ
In Riyadh, Jaishankar also met with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf – the two leaders signed an MoU on the mechanism of consultations between India and the six-nation regional bloc.
“Exchanged views on the current regional and global situation and the relevance of India-GCC cooperation in that context,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.
The GCC is a regional, intergovernmental, political, and economic union comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
India’s ties with the GCC suffered a setback in June this year following the remarks on the Prophet by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
Liz Truss was announced as the new head of the Conservative Party today. Forty-seven-year-old Liz Truss will become the third female prime minister of the UK…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday congratulated British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for getting elected as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Taking to Twitter, Jaishanakar in his congratulatory message wrote that the India-UK partnership will further strengthen under her leadership.
“Congratulations @trussliz on being elected as the leader of UK Conservative Party. Your commitment to raising India-UK cooperation to a higher level is well known. Confident that our relationship will grow further under your leadership,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Liz Truss was announced as the new head of the Conservative Party today. Forty-seven-year-old Liz Truss will become the third female prime minister of the UK.
She defeated former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak through a postal ballot of all Conservative members. Truss secured 81,326 votes while Sunak got 60,399 votes.
“I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country. I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential,” Truss wrote on Twitter.
The Tory leadership race was triggered after Boris Johnson was forced to step down on July 7 following a series of resignations of cabinet members, who protested against his scandal-plagued leadership.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss rose to the Conservative ranks to end up as finalists for the contest for the post of UK Prime Minister.
During nearly a dozen hustings and after a six-week long head-to-head competition, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak had explained their long-term visions for Britain. Both contenders went through bouts of 12 nationwide events with the first bout in Leeds, Northern England.
Truss indicated that she will strongly push back against “identity politics of the left” as she has envisioned the legislation for single-sex spaces such as domestic violence shelters. Sunak batted for cutting VAT to revive the country’s economic situation.
The Roadmap 2030 for India-UK future relations was launched during a virtual summit between the two countries in May last year. This Roadmap is for revitalised and dynamic connections between people, re-energised trade, investment and technological collaboration.
During her visit to India this year, Truss along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far concerning Roadmap 2030 and agreed to further intensify efforts to deliver results in priority areas of trade and investments, defence, and migration.
Both sides appreciated the substantial progress made in the India-UK FTA negotiations with two productive rounds completed since its launch in January 2022. (ANI)
Jaishankar conveyed the Modi’s greetings to Sheikh Mohamed and his wishes for further progress and prosperity for the UAE and its people, reports Shaneer N. Siddiqui
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding strengthening the strategic relations between the two countries and the prospects of developing them to serve their common interests.
Sheikh Mohamed received the letter during a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to the United Arab Emirate to attend the meetings of the 14th session of the UAE-India Joint Committee and the third session of the UAE-India Strategic Dialogue.
At the beginning of Friday’s meeting, which took place at the Al Shati Palace, Jaishankar conveyed the Modi’s greetings to Sheikh Mohamed and his wishes for further progress and prosperity for the UAE and its people.
For his part, the UAE President conveyed his greetings to the Prime Minister, wishing India and its people further development and prosperity.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed various aspects of their bilateral relations and the importance of cooperating to enhance and advance them within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership and the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in addition to a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President.
The delegation accompanying Jaishankar was also present.
On the same day, Sheikh Abdullah chaired the third session of the UAE-India Strategic Dialogue, which was held in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian side was headed by Jaishankar.
During the session, the two sides discussed issues of common interest and prospects for enhancing bilateral cooperation, in line with the CEPA.
They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Terming it as a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony, the EAM hailed the efforts of all Indians in building the iconic Temple…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) visited the under-construction Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi said to be the first traditional temple in the Arabian Peninsula and expressed his happiness over its “rapid progress.”
On Wednesday, Jaishankar visited the site of the under-construction site of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the UAE.
“On Ganesh Chaturthi, blessed to visit the @BAPS Hindu temple under construction in Abu Dhabi. Glad to see the rapid progress and deeply appreciate the devotion of all involved. Met the BAPS team, community supporters and devotees and workers at the site”, tweeted Jaishankar.
Terming it as a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony, the EAM hailed the efforts of all Indians in building the iconic Temple.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Abu Dhabi in UAE is being built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
Several thousand devotees from all over the world, well-wishers and guests participated in the Shila Pujan ceremony at Abu Mureikheh in 2018, which marked the first step in the construction of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. Since then, the site of construction has received many visitors from all walks of faith, according to the temple authorities.
The Indian Embassy in UAE tweeted, “Auspicious beginning to the visit of EAM @DrSJaishankar. EAM visited the @BAPS@AbuDhabiMandirsite and laid a brick in its intricate architecture. Also hailed the efforts of all Indians in building the iconic Temple, a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony”.
Also defining EAM’s remarks as inspirational BAPS tweeted, “Our deepest gratitude to @DrSJaishankar for his visit to the Mandir on this auspicious day. His words of inspiration to the craftsmen, volunteers and contributors underlined the role of this Mandir as a Spiritual Oasis for Global Harmony”.
In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of over 1,700 Indian and Emirati dignitaries from all walks of life, unveiled a model of the traditional stone temple.
“The first traditional temple in Abu Dhabi will act as a catalyst for the flourishment of humanitarian values and harmony between the two countries. The temple will become a medium for India’s identity.”, PM Modi then said.
The UAE government in 2015 had decided to allot a plot of land near Abu Dhabi for the construction of the temple during PM Modi’s first visit to the West Asian country.
Meanwhile, the EAM also met Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence, and appreciated his strong support for the Indian community, yoga activities, cricket and cultural cooperation.
“Delighted to meet Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence. Appreciated his strong support for the Indian community, our yoga activities, cricket and cultural cooperation”, Jaishankar tweeted.
EAM will also be co-chairing the 14th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and the third India-UAE Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to a statement by the MEA, these meetings will provide an opportunity for both the Ministers to review the entire spectrum of comprehensive strategic partnerships between India and UAE and regional and global developments. During the visit Jaishankar will also meet other UAE dignitaries.
There has been a regular exchange of high-level interaction between India and UAE in 2022. PM Narendra Modi paid a visit to Abu Dhabi on June 28 and met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Prior to that, both leaders had also held a virtual summit on February 18 during which India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed and a vision statement adopted. Both leaders also participated in the I2U2 Summit held virtually on July 14, as per MEA.
Both India and UAE are committed to moving forward in their partnership in diverse areas, including trade, investment, conventional and renewable energy, food security, health, skill development, education, culture, defence, space, consular issues and people-to-people ties. (ANI)
EAM Jaishankar’s remarks come amid ongoing talks between the two sides to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)…reports Asian Lite News
The state of the border would determine the state of relations between India and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said.
For ties to return to a positive trajectory and remain sustainable, they must be based on the three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest, EAM Jaishankar said while speaking at the launch of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi on Monday.
Arguing that much of the future of Asia depends on how relations between India and China develop in the foreseeable future, he said, “Their current status is, of course, well known to all of you. I can only reiterate that the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship”.
He also spoke about the concept of the Asian century and said, “When we speak of a rising Asia, the term Asian Century naturally springs to mind. To the sensible and sober, that signifies a greater weight for Asia in the overall global calculus.”
However, he also added that it contains triumphalist implications with which India at least shouldn’t be comfortable.
“That is why ‘rising but divided’ is such a strong concern. It is said that the pre-requisite for an Asian Century is an India and China coming together. Conversely, their inability to do so will undermine it,” he argued.
EAM Jaishankar also referred to Asia’s prospects and challenges, saying they were today very much dependent on developments in the Indo-Pacific. “In fact, the concept itself is a reflection of divided Asia, as some have a vested interest in keeping the region less cohesive and interactive,” he remarked in an apparent reference to China’s expansionist and exclusivist policies as well as aggressive posturing.
“That the global commons and the international community are better served by collaborative endeavours like the Quad apparently leaves them cold. Developing even a basic strategic consensus in Asia is, therefore, clearly a formidable task,” he added.
EAM Jaishankar’s remarks come amid ongoing talks between the two sides to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Matters had come to a head in June 2020 when a violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. Twenty India soldiers lost their lives. A large number of Chinese solidiers also died.
Since then, India and China have been engaged in talks at the military as well as diplomatic levels for disengagement along friction points in the border areas of Eastern Ladakh.
India and China had in-depth discussions for disengagement at the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh during the 16th round India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting held on July 17.
“Building on the progress made at the last meeting on 11th March 2022, the two sides continued discussions for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in a constructive and forward looking manner,” said a joint press release issued after the meeting.
Interacting with the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, earlier last month, EAM Jaishankar had said India would not countenance any unilateral attempts to change the present position of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
There have been regular high-level interactions between India and the UAE in 2022. PM Narendra Modi paid visit to Abu Dhabi on June 28 this year and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be visiting UAE from August 31 to co-chair the 14th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and 3rd India-UAE Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“These meetings will provide an opportunity to both the Ministers to review the entire spectrum of comprehensive strategic partnership between India and UAE and regional and global developments. During the visit, EAM will also meet other UAE dignitaries,” said a statement from MEA.
There have been regular high-level interactions between India and the UAE in 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid visit to Abu Dhabi on June 28 this year and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Earlier, both leaders had also held a Virtual Summit on February 18, during which India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed and a Vision Statement was adopted. Both leaders also participated in the I2U2 Summit held virtually on July 14.
The MEA said that both India and UAE are committed to moving forward in their partnership in diverse areas, including trade, investment, conventional and renewable energy, food security, health, skill development, education, culture, defence, space, consular issues and people-to-people ties.
These areas were also discussed at official levels during the meetings of the Sub-Committees of the JCM held on August 23-24, 2022.
The UAE, which is home to around 3.5 million Indian expatriates, is one of India’s key strategic partners in West Asia. Trilateral cooperation between India and the UAE, and other partners has grown following the signing of the Abraham Accords by Israel and the formation of I2U2 – the grouping comprising India, Israel, the UAE and the United States.
Jaishankar will also meet other dignitaries while in the UAE. There have been regular exchanges of high-level visits and other interactions between India and the UAE this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Abu Dhabi on June 28 and met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both leaders also held a virtual summit on February 18, during which the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed and a vision statement was adopted.
Trade gap widens
India’s trade gap with the United Arab Emirates ballooned fourfold in the May-June period, the first two months since the India-UAE free trade agreement came into effect, driven by a jump in oil and gold imports.
The country’s trade deficit with the UAE widened to $3.92 billion in the two-month period from $980 million the year earlier.
India, too, made gains, with its exports to the West Asian nation rising 17.5% to $5.4 billion. On the other hand, imports grew 67% to $9.3 billion in the period, mainly due to a spike in oil shipments in both volume and value terms amid soaring global prices.
However, unlike its imports, Indian exports mainly comprised value-added and finished goods such as textiles, gems and jewellery, machinery, footwear, and automobiles.
The widening trade gap is not a major concern as India largely imports raw materials from the UAE, said Arpita Mukherjee, a professor at ICRIER, an economic policy think tank.
“The growth in exports, post the trade agreement, shows that the trade accord is going to benefit exports. I am not very worried about imports. We have to import raw materials, intermediate goods and goods that are not produced in the country,” Mukherjee said.
Countries such as China, the US and India are scouring the world to secure raw materials and energy supplies to feed their industry and boost economic growth.
For example, China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, aims to develop multiple trade corridors to secure factory supply chains and energy.
In that context, the trade accord with the UAE, a key energy supplier and a significant market, may offer long-term benefits to India.
India’s gains in exports to the UAE were most visible in sectors where it gained duty-free access under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into effect on 1 May.
While footwear exports surged 73% in May, gems and jewellery exports grew by 33%, tea, coffee, and spices rose by 50%, ready-made textiles by 42% and automobiles by 192%.
As a result, exporters expect India to sell $40 billion of goods to the UAE in the current fiscal year from $28 billion in FY22.
“The first month is very impressive despite the fact that many sectors are still preparing to exploit their potential. We should look for exports of $35-40 billion this fiscal year,” said Ajay Sahai, director general and chief executive of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations.
Pharma exports also reported a 52% growth. The pact provides that Indian pharmaceutical and medical products will get regulatory approval within 90 days of regulatory approval in developed jurisdictions such as the US, UK, European Union, Canada and Australia. Vegetable exports surged 147%.
For the first time, the pact has listed 17 agencies from the Indian side, besides the Export Inspection Council, to issue certificates of origin to exporters digitally. They include the Spices Board, Coir Board and Tobacco Board. This facilitates faster clearances and trade.
The pact has eliminated duties for 90% of India’s exports in value terms to the UAE, covering sectors including gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, and engineering goods.
A commerce department official said, “India-UAE CEPA has been brought into force only recently. It’s not advisable to draw any inference or conclusion about business direction or trends prematurely from one month’s data, although bilateral trade has been put on a high-growth trajectory through the India-UAE CEPA. Data from many months would be necessary for a meaningful analysis. Needless to say, both sides are expected to gain from different aspects of India-UAE CEPA over a period of time.”
