Page 15 - Ministry Of External Affairs

PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka next month to finalise bilateral agreements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Sri Lanka early next month to finalise agreements reached during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to Delhi last year, a minister said on Saturday. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath made the statement while responding to a question on budget allocation debate in the parliament here. We have maintained a close relationship with our neighbour India. Our first diplomatic visit was to India, where we reached several agreements on bilateral cooperation," Herath said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive here early April," he added. Herath said that during PM Modi's visit, several new memoranda of understandings will be signed, in addition to the opening of the Sampur solar power station. In 2023, the state power entity Ceylon Electricity Board and India's NTPC agreed to build a 135 MW solar power plant in Sampur town of eastern Trincomalee district. Herath said the National People's Power (NPP) government's goodwill policy

India slams Pak for 'unjustified' reference to Jammu and Kashmir in UNGA

India has slammed Pakistan for its "unjustified" reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly, with New Delhi asserting that such remarks will neither validate the country's claim nor justify its practice of cross-border terrorism. "As is their habit, the former foreign secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said in remarks on Friday in the General Assembly at the informal meeting of the plenary to commemorate the International Day to combat Islamophobia. Harish said frequent references by Pakistan will "neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism". "The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry. Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India," he said. Harish's strong retort came after ..

'Focus inward, not blame': India rejects Pak claim on Jaffar Express attack

Rejecting Pakistan's allegations, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the world knows where the epicentre of terrorism lies, and Pakistan must stop shifting blame and take responsibility

PIL in HC challenges MEA, Indian embassy in Oman for consular services

The petition argues that the RFP mandates service providers to charge a single contract price for application filing and support services, irrespective of whether applicants utilize services

No boundaries for India-Mauritius ties, will work for our people: PM Modi

Expressing gratitude to the Mauritius government for the grand welcome, PM Modi said it's not just a political visit but an opportunity to meet one's family

Mauritius PM hosts state dinner for PM Modi, says honoured by his visit

Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam welcomed Prime Minister Modi to the country's National Day celebrations, expressing his pride and gratitude for Modi's presence

Monitoring Afghanistan situation, held talks with Taliban: India to UNSC

India told the UN Security Council that it has discussed with the Taliban regime various issues pertaining to bilateral relations and the "special" people-to-people ties has been the "foundation" of Delhi's present day engagement with the country. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said Monday at the UN Security meeting on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) that in the beginning of this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. The two sides discussed various issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as regional developments. The Afghan side appreciated and thanked Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan. It was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programs, Harish said in the Council. The January .

PM Modi arrives in Mauritius, to inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure, during his two-day state visit to Mauritius, beginning Tuesday, officials said. The prime minister will also announce new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy in the Southeast African island nation. Prime Minister Modi, along with his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam, will jointly inaugurate the Civil Services College building. The construction of the building was completed at an approximate cost of USD 4.75 million. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in 2017. Modi will also e-inaugurate the Area Health Centre and 20 community projects, which have been constructed at a cost of around INR 7 crores. These community projects also include sports-related infrastructure. "We have something called community development projects, and these are small projects at the grassroots level, which ar

India secures repatriation of 283 nationals from Myanmar lured by fake jobs

These nationals were made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres operating in regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border

New Zealand PM Luxon to make an official visit to India from March 16-20

Luxon is scheduled to join the inaugural session of the 10th Raisina Dialogue 2025 on March 17, deliver the keynote address, and interact with Indian business leaders during his visit

Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius expects key maritime security deals

Indian High Commissioner noted that digital and financial connectivity plays a crucial role in the economic relationship and people-to-people ties between India and Mauritius

EAM Jaishankar's Ireland visit highlights push to further boost ties: MEA

Recognizing the importance of growing bilateral trade and economic ties, the two sides agreed to set up an India-Ireland Joint Economic Commission, the MEA said in its official statement

Austrian envoy Wieser urges stronger India-EU ties, calls 2025 'key year'

Noting that the ties between India, Austria and the European Union has been intensifying over the past years, Ambassador Wieser affirmed hope that the trend will continue in the coming years

Highlights: We're close to closing in on final call for GST rates & slabs reduction, says Sitharaman

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from around the world here

India, Ireland to form Joint Economic Commission to boost ties: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris and said both the countries have agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission to "increase trade, investment, and technology linkages."The EAM shared the details through a post on X on Friday."A warm and open meeting with Tanaiste & FM @SimonHarrisTD of Ireland this morning in Dublin. We discussed our bilateral cooperation, including a new Action Plan to reinvigorate ties. Agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission to increase our trade, investment and technology linkages. Exchanged views on the recent developments in our respective regions and globally, including the Ukraine conflict, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific. Also spoke about India-EU cooperation and multilateralism," the EAM saidTowards the conclusion of the Irish leg of his visit, Jaishankar paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore's bust statue at St Stephen's Park in Dublin.He wrote on X, "Paid tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath ...

Indian forces to participate in Mauritius National Day celebrations

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, PM Modi will pay a State Visit to Mauritius from March 11-12 and attend the National Day celebrations

EAM Jaishankar inaugurates new Consulate General of India in Belfast

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday inaugurated a new Consulate General of India in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to cater to the needs of a growing Indian diaspora in the region. Addressing a gathering of community leaders and prominent dignitaries at the newest Indian Consulate, the external affairs minister said the move symbolised the deepening of bilateral ties between India and the UK and an appreciation of the contributions of the diaspora. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, a devolved region of the United Kingdom, which is home to an estimated 10,000 people of Indian heritage as per the last official census. We saw in Belfast a meeting place, in many ways, between our UK policy and our European policies, said Jaishankar. We could see that this (region) had privileged access to both. Interestingly, we were negotiating free trade agreements with both the UK and the EU in parallel, which we hope to conclude at an early date, he said. The minister reflected

Foreign secretary Misri holds talks with Russian counterpart in Moscow

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday held talks with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Rudenko, focusing on various aspects of bilateral cooperation. It is understood that the conflict in Ukraine also figured in the talks. The foreign secretary is likely to meet a number of other senior Russian leaders. "Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri held Foreign Office Consultations with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Andrey Rudenko in Moscow," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X. The foreign secretary's visit is taking place amid a renewed focus on the Ukraine conflict after US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traded verbal blows at the Oval Office in the White House on Friday last that drew global attention. Europe has come out in strong support of Zelenskyy following the unprecedented scenes that unfolded in the Oval Office. The issue of discharge of the remaining Indian nationals serving in the .

Multipolar world benefits India, strengthens global ties: EAM Jaishankar

India has a stable relationship with the US, unlike some other countries, Jaishankar stated

EAM Jaishankar begin his official visit to Ireland, meets President Higgins

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is on an official visit to the UK and Ireland, called upon Ireland President Michael D Higgins.Jaishankar on Thursday conveyed the regards of President Droupadi Murmu to him and the two leaders discussed about the role of culture in strengthening the nationhood.Sharing the details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said, "Honored to call on President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin this evening. Conveyed the warm regards of President Droupadi Murmu. Value his insights on the contemporary world and its development debates. Spoke of the role of culture in strengthening nationhood."S Jaishankar is on an official visit to the United Kingdom & Ireland from March 4 to March 9.During the Irish leg of his visit on March 6-7, EAM will be meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, other dignitaries and members of Indian community, the Ministry of External Affairs has said in an official statement.India and Ireland share friendly bilateral ...