Sushma Swaraj 4-Day Visit to China
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in China on 21 April on a four-day visit to take part in the foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
This was their first meeting after Wang Yi was elevated as state councillor last month which makes him the top diplomat of the country in the Chinese hierarchy. He also continues to be foreign minister.
In her initial remarks, Swaraj congratulated Wang on being elevated as state councillor and the special representative for the India-China boundary talks.
Their meeting is part of efforts by the two countries to step up the pace of high-level interactions to improve relations, official sources told PTI before the meeting.
Following the Dokalam standoff last year both countries increased dialogue to scale down tensions and improve relations with talks at various levels.
Swaraj and Wang are meeting in the immediate backdrop of the recent meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top official of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Yang Jiechi in Shanghai.
(With inputs from PTI.)
Sushma, Sitharaman Did Not Confront China on Doklam: Congress
The Congress on 25 April alleged that India's national security and strategic interests had been compromised in Doklam with the Narendra Modi government maintaining a "conspiratorial silence" on it during the China visit.
Both Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had completely omitted confronting China on creation of full-fledged Chinese military complex in Doklam right upto 10 metres from Indian army post.Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala
He alleged that both omitted confrontation with China over the building of a new road south of Doklam platform to provide easy access to China to Jhamperi Ridge overlooking the Siliguri Corridor, a gateway to North-Eastern states.
Swaraj Adresses Indians in Mongolia
Wrapping up her second day in Mongolia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed the Indian community in Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday.
Working With Mongolian Friends to Protect Buddhist Heritage: Swaraj at Kushok Bakula's 100th Birth Anniversary
The External Affairs Minister on Wednesday, attended the 100th birth anniversary of Kushok Bakula along with other dignitaries. Bakula had served as India's Ambassador to Mongolia from 1990-2000. He also served as a minister in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
In her address at the event, Swaraj spoke about preserving Buddhist heritage and the partnership India and Mongolia share.
India and Mongolia share a unique partnership. The spiritual connection through Buddhism provides strength to our relationship. It is not a partnership of convenience but a relationship of trust and spiritual strength.Sushma Swaraj
“In our engagement with Mongolia, we are revitalising Buddhism as a strong symbol of our civilisational connection transcending into modern times. In our own small way, we are trying to work with our Mongolian friends to protect and preserve our Buddhist heritage”, she added.
India, Mongolia to Enhance Bilateral Trade, Investments
India and Mongolia , on Wednesday, discussed economic cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, energy, services and IT and agreed to explore possibility of launching direct air connectivity between New Delhi and the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a joint media briefing with Mongolian Foreign Minister D Tsogtbaatar, after the 6th Session of the Indian-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation in Ulaanbaatar, said the two countries agreed to explore ways to identify new areas of cooperation in all sectors of mutual interest and to enhance bilateral trade and investments.
Swaraj, the first Indian foreign minister to visit the resource-rich country in 42 years, said India sees Mongolia as a factor of stability in East Asia and believes that Mongolia’s social and economic development is important for peace and prosperity in the region.
During the Indian-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation, the two sides discussed pressing global challenges, particularly the scourge of terrorism and agreed to collaborate bilaterally and in international arena to thwart the designs of those who extend support to terrorist outfits.
The two sides also reviewed the progress in the ongoing collaborative projects, including the refinery project selected by the Government of Mongolia for implementation with the support of USD one billion Indian Line of Credit.
We directed our officials to coordinate follow up action on each side for the expeditious implementation of these projects. Our strong political ties must be complemented by commensurate levels of trade, economy and investment.Sushma Swaraj
Calling upon the Mongolian business community to "seize economic opportunities arising out of "India's growth", she said the two countries have agreed to remove institutional and logistical impediments to boost trade, tourism and people to people contacts.
"In this regard, we also agreed to explore possibility of launching direct air connectivity between our two capitals," she said.
In the meeting, they discussed economic cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, energy, services and IT.
India and Mongolia have close cooperation in trade and economy, science, health, agriculture, culture, education, communication and tourism. The two countries are also working closely to ensure security and curbing international crimes and terrorism.