Swaraj for better ties with Caribbean, Latin-American nations

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today discussed UN Security Council reforms and coordination on global issues like international terrorism and climate change in her meetings here with leaders of Caribbean and Latin-American nations.
Swaraj hosted the India-CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) Foreign Minister's meeting here on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
According to a tweet by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, Swaraj said "India's ties with the Caribbean region are historic & civilizational and they share similar concerns & common aspirations for accelerated economic development & eradication of poverty (sic)."
"EAM calls for partnership with Caricom on text-based negotiations for UNSC reform; praises role of Chair of IGN (Inter-Governmental Negotiations) Amb. Rattray of Jamaica (sic)," he tweeted.

Swaraj also offered assistance to Caribbean countries in capacity building, IT, agriculture, pharma, SMEs, and many other areas.
She then attended the India-CELAC (The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Quartet Ministerial Meeting with her counterparts from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Barbados.

"Our 2 way trade with CELAC is USD 46 billion. We should boost coop in energy, S&T, health care, agro chemicals etc," Swaraj said, calling for India-CELAC coordination on global issues like international terrorism, climate change and UNSC reform.
Undertaking "neighbourhood diplomacy," Swaraj met Maldivian Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

She also attended a SAARC Foreign Ministers luncheon hosted by Nepal.
Her other bilateral meetings included a "quick pull aside" with Venezuela Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez and Syrian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Walid Almoualem.
Swaraj will tomorrow address the general debate of the UN General Assembly session.