Page 17 - Bilateral Ties

India to begin FTA talks with Russia-led economic bloc in Jan: Jaishankar

India, Russia to step up discussions on an investment pact, multiple connectivity routes

Will establish sister city relationship between Janakpur, Ayodhya: Nepal

Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma on Friday said that Nepal and India are working to establish a sister city relationship between Janakpur and Ayodhya.He further said the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi was glad to receive Janakpur Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah and other dignitaries to participate in a program organized by the Chamber of India."Gald to receive Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah and other dignitaries from Janakpur Dham at @EONIndia. They were here to participate in a program organized by the Incredible Chamber of India. & are also working to establish sister city relationships between Janakpur and Ayodya," the Nepalese Ambassador wrote on 'X'.Recently, the Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organised the inaugural India-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini."The festival showcased the rich cultural heritage and traditions of India and Nepal, with a focus on Buddhism. The festival featured a Sand ...

India, Oman adopt vision document to expand bilateral cooperation

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi

PM Modi holds talks with Oman's Sultan Tarik with focus on bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik with a focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment. The Sultan of Oman arrived in Delhi on a state visit on Friday, in his first trip to India as the top leader of the Gulf nation. "Giving a boost to India-Oman Strategic Partnership! PM @narendramodi warmly received His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman at Hyderabad House, setting the stage for bilateral discussions," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X ahead of the talks. "Agenda includes taking stock of bilateral ties and charting pathways for the future collaboration between the two countries," he said. In the morning, Sultan bin Tarik was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the fore-court of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "This first state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to India marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between I

India 'indispensable' partner for strategic equilibrium: Australian envoy

India is an "indispensable" partner critical for ensuring strategic equilibrium against the backdrop of China's "largest military" build-up without any transparency after the Second World War as well as challenges such as coercive trade measures and political interference, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green said on Wednesday. In an address at the Asia Society Policy Institute, the newly-appointed envoy said India and Australia want to preserve an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and that both sides see the region the same way and know what needs to be done. Delving into various aspects of the India-Australia engagement in the last around five years, he said it was the "fastest rise" in a major power relationship that his country has ever experienced and it is expanding further. In an oblique reference to Washington's allegations of an Indian link to a failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist and Canada's charge of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing o

PM extends wishes to S Korean prez as both nations celebrate 50 yrs of ties

He further emphasised that India and South Korea have mutual respect, shared values and growing partnerships.

He is main guarantor of steady Russia-India ties: Putin praises PM Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his tough stance on defending India's national interests without being "intimidated" by any pressure and said the policy pursued by him is the "main guarantor" of the progressively developing bilateral ties. Putin's comments came at the "Russia Calling!" forum. The Russian leader said he "cannot imagine that Modi could be frightened, intimidated or forced to take any actions, steps, decisions that would be at variance with the national interests of India and the Indian people". He said relations between Russia and India are developing in all areas. Putin, who on Friday announced his intention to run for the presidency again in 2024, said he can feel pressure on Modi from unfriendly countries. Putin disclosed that he and Modi never even discussed this subject, the Russian News Agency TASS reported. "I just look at what is happening from the outside, and sometimes, frankly speaking, I am even .

India, US have established mature relationship, says US Deputy NSA Finer

The US and India have established a mature relationship that enables both sides to identify opportunities and work through differences, US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer said on Monday. In an address at a conclave, he said the US and India have a "complicated history" and they have not always been "wholly aligned". Finer said there are many "difficult issues" that remain in the relationship "right up to the present day". At the same time, he said there is a bipartisan view in the US that both countries must seize some important opportunities that the world presents to the two sides, both geopolitically and economically. The senior White House official is on a visit to India that comes days after American prosecutors linked an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. "I think the US and India have a complicated history. We have not always been wholly aligned. We have not always found it easy to work ...

Afghanistan to open embassy in India, highlights commitment to boost ties

"In this regard, Afghanistan is pleased to announce its intention to open an Afghan embassy in India," the Afghan Embassy in India posted on X

World much more than Europe: Lavrov echoes Jaishankar on global order

He quoted Jaishankar's remarks that the "world is much more than Europe" and the "world is much more than the West"

India-Armenia hold bilateral talks during 10th Foreign Office Consultations

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the multilateral fora

We share Global South angst of not having voice at UNSC high table: India

India has said it shares the collective angst of countries of the Global South that they have no voice at the UN Security Council high-table on core issues concerning them, as it joined nations in stressing that a representative UNSC is required to deal with the proliferation of global crises. Several aspects of the United Nations system urgently require reform. Among these, the reform of the UN Security Council was identified as a critical and immediate priority, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said. "In spite of that collective call, we have had no results to show so far. Why? Kamboj asked. Addressing the annual UN General Assembly Plenary Thursday on Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council', Kamboj said "as a member of the Global South, we share its collective angst that on issues of core concern to the South, we have no voice at the high table. She noted that 164 member states have joine

Message for Beijing

Indo-US geopolitical collaboration is expanding

EAM Jaishankar to visit UK from November 11-15, set to meet counterpart

During his visit, Jaishankar will hold a meeting with his UK counterpart James Cleverly. He will also meet several other dignitaries

US, India forge stronger ties for open, secure Indo-Pacific future

Blinken also reiterated that they are looking forward to continuing their innovations in technology, clean energy, and space for a brighter future

India's full support to Bhutan's development, PM Modi to King Wangchuk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed to Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck India's full support to the socio-economic development of Bhutan based on its priorities even as the two sides agreed to boost cross-border connectivity and expand ties in trade, infrastructure and energy. A joint statement issued after wide-ranging talks between Modi and Wangchuck said the two sides agreed on a final location survey for the proposed cross-border rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan. They also agreed to consider establishing a rail link between Banarhat in West Bengal and Samtse in Bhutan. In a post on 'X', Modi described the talks as "warm" and "positive". "We had very warm and positive discussions on various facets of the unique and exemplary India-Bhutan relationship. Deeply value His Majesty's vision for the development and wellbeing of the friendly people of Bhutan," he said. Modi and Wangchuck "positively assessed" expanding India-Bhutan .

Albanese calls for cooperation ahead of meeting with China's Xi Jinping

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck an optimistic tone ahead of his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday, calling for cooperation while emphasising that the two countries will continue to have differences. Albanese is the first Australian prime minister in seven years to visit China as the two countries have recently begun to repair a relationship that had crashed over trade and security differences. What I've said is that we need to co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest," Albanese said in Beijing. "I think there are promising signs we've already seen, a number of the impediments to trade between our two nations removed and an uplift already, substantial uplift in the trade between our two nations. His visit is largely symbolic, and comes near the 50th anniversary of the first trip by an Australian prime minister to the People's Republic of China. He is planned to meet with Xi later Monday. China and

EAM Jaishankar, Australian Oppn leader discusses ties and global affairs

The two leaders discussed the various aspects of the bilateral partnership between India and Australia. They also engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on pressing geopolitical issues

US Assistant Secretary of state to travel to India for ministerial dialogue

US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu is travelling to India next week to participate in the 2+2 ministerial where he will discuss strategic coordination on regional and global issues, clean energy, and security cooperation. Lu's trip from November 4 to 11 starts with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and finally India, according to a State Department statement. In New Delhi, Lu will meet with partners ahead of the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, to discuss strategic coordination on regional and global issues, clean energy, and security cooperation. During the 2+2 Dialogue, Assistant Secretary Lu will support Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin in advancing a wide range of issues, including defence and security, regional developments, emerging tech, and cooperation in clean energy and space, the State Department said. Lu will lead a US delegation to Central Asia to build on the success of the inaugural C5+1 Presidential Summit on the margins of

Bhutan King Wangchuck to begin 8-day India visit on Friday, to meet PM Modi

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will begin a eight-day visit to India on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said the visit would provide an opportunity to both sides to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and further advance the "exemplary" partnership. The King of Bhutan will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to deliberate on various aspects of close India-Bhutan ties. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior officials of the government will call on the King of Bhutan, the MEA said on Thursday. "The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, accompanied by senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan, will be on an official visit to India from November 3 to 10," it said in a statement. The King will also visit the states of Assam and Maharashtra. "India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are characterised by understanding and mutual trust," the MEA said. "The visit wou