Foreign ministers call Sushma, discuss ties

Foreign ministers from across the world Thursday called External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to congratulate her and discuss bilateral issues.

A statement from the ministry said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop discussed ways to deepen "bilateral trade and economic ties as well as civil nuclear cooperation."

"They also discussed cooperation in multilateral fora such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and G-20," the statement said.

Sushma Swaraj also discussed ways to "develop the trade and investment relationship" with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird.

While accepting "in principle" the invitation extended by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Sushma Swaraj spoke of the need to advance bilateral ties in the fields of "knowledge economy and high technology".

South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane assured Sushma Swaraj of her country's "desire for active participation in the Third India-Africa Forum Summit" to be held later this year.

Sushma Swaraj congratulated Mashabane on her reappointment as foreign minister following elections in South Africa.

She also spoke to UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed the possibility of her visiting the country.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sushma Swaraj that there were "tremendous opportunities" to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Sushma Swaraj informed him about the "good ties" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of India's neighbouring countries.