EAM S Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with his counterparts from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam; inks key pacts
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar held a series of bilateral engagements with his counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore, on the sidelines of the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The External Affairs Ministry said, during the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Commission meeting yesterday, Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi reviewed the bilateral relations and discussed way ahead for further strengthening the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Ministers signed the agreement on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official or service passports. They also witnessed the exchange of MoU between the Narcotics Control Bureau of India and National Narcotics Board of Indonesia on combating illicit trafficking in Narcotic Drugs. Both Ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues including Indo-Pacific. Dr. Jaishankar expressed solidarity with Indonesia for its Chairmanship of the G20 and supported its priorities.
The External Affairs Minister also met the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah and witnessed the exchange of notes for mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Both Ministers emphasized on economic and trade ties in sector like palm oil and hydrocarbons. They agreed to hold the next Joint Commission Meeting in Malaysia.
Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son also held a bilateral meeting yesterday. Both the Ministers launched the logo for the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam. The Ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. An MoU on cyber security between CERT-In, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and VNCERT, Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam was exchanged.
Earlier, Dr. S. Jaishankar held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Brunei, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on Thursday. Both Ministers reviewed the progress in bilateral relations. They agreed that cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, space, agriculture and pharmaceuticals should be further strengthened. Dr. Jaishankar also met the Special Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Pornpimol Kanchanalak on 16th of this month. Dr. Jaishankar assured India’s full support during Thailand’s Chairmanship of BIMSTEC.
On 15th of this month, Dr. Jaishankar met Singapore Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. Both the Ministers discussed various aspects of the multifaceted relations between the two countries including in areas such as trade and investment, digital economy and FINTECH, green growth and development and connectivity. They also had a wide ranging conversation on global geopolitical challenges and developments in the region.
