EAM Jaishankar Meets Singapore Top Brass, Reviews Progress Of PM Modis Earlier Visit
EAM Jaishankar visited Singapore on July 13. During the visit, he called on the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.
The MEA noted in its statement that the leaders reviewed progress of the outcomes of Prime Minister's visit and the 2nd round of India Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), which included areas of investments, industrial parks, semiconductors, infrastructure, skill development and connectivity. They also exchanged views on ASEAN, Indo-Pacific and global developments.
EAM Jaishankar also met Teo Chee Hean, former Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security and Chairman-designate of Temasek Holdings. Their discussion focused on transformation underway in India and opportunities for Temasek to expand its investments in India.
MEA underlined in its statement that the visit is part of continued high-level exchanges between two countries and reflects the importance India attaches to its relations with Singapore.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will arrive in Beijing on Sunday evening, his first trip to China in five years.
The visit comes at a time when both countries are trying to ease tensions and improve ties that plummeted following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.Jaishankar, who is on a two-nation tour -- Singapore and China is scheduled to arrive in Beijing this evening after wrapping up the Singapore leg of his visit.
The External Affairs Minister is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for a bilateral meeting on Monday.
Jaishankar and Wang last met in February on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg, where both sides echoed calls for mutual trust and support.
Jaishankar will also attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' in Tianjin on July 15.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that "EAM will visit the People's Republic of China to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) being held in Tianjin. EAM will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFM."
This is Jaishankar's first visit to China since relations soured following the deadly military clash in Galwan in 2020.Jaishankar's visit follows visits by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who had travelled to China in June for the SCO meetings.
Wang Yi is also expected to visit India next month to meet NSA Ajit Doval -- part of a planned round of dialogue under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism aimed at resolving the decades-old boundary dispute.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
17 minutes ago
- First Post
India, Maldives sign UPI agreement during PM Modi's landmark visit
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives, he and President Mohamed Muizzu reviewed key bilateral issues, signed an agreement on UPI payments, and participated in symbolic events including a tree-planting ceremony, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri read more Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, center right, watch a traditional welcome dance upon Modi's arrival at the airport, in Male, Maldives. AP Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu reviewed the entire gamut of issues in the bilateral relationship during their engagements. Misri, while addressing a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs on the Prime Minister's visit to Maldives, said that the Network-to-Network Agreement between India's NPCI International Payment Limited (NIPL) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on UPI in Maldives was signed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Misri said, 'The implementation agreement has been signed today. The technical work is now required, and people should be able to use UPI as soon as the technical work and the operationalisation of the MoU are concluded.' Misri highlighted that upon arrival, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour. 'This morning, on arrival at the airport, the Prime Minister was warmly received by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and members of his Cabinet. This was a very special gesture by the President. The Prime Minister was also accorded a ceremonial guard of honour and welcomed with a special cultural performance. In the afternoon today, the Prime Minister and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu held restricted and delegation-level talks. This gave both leaders the opportunity to review the entire gamut of issues in the bilateral relationship,' he said. Misri said that PM Modi and Muizzu participated in a symbolic tree planting ceremony at Sultan Park under 'EK Ped Maa Ke Naam' (a tree for Mother) initiative. Misri said, 'The two leaders were together for a tree plantation event which is being carried out under the initiative taken by PM Modi in India, 'EK Ped Maa Ke Naam'. PM Modi also handed over two BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes that will be of great relevance in medical emergencies,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the announcement of the initiation of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Maldives, Misri said, 'I cannot point to an exact timeline. This is an FTA that we should be able to conclude rather quickly.' Misri while answering a question regarding the now deleted social media post of Abdullah bin Mohammed Ibrahim, brother-in-law of Muizzu, reportedly criticising PM Modi amid his visit to the Maldives, said that India-Maldives ties have withstood such comments. 'Our ties are strong enough to withstand some of these passing remarks that have been made and have also withstood the test of time. I would prefer to look forward. By going with everything that has happened today and especially in the past 9-10 months since President Mohamed Muizzu visited India, the future is undoubtedly and unquestionably bright.' PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the Maldives at the invitation of President Muizzu.
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Thailand warns of war with Cambodia, clashes enter day 2
A convenience store at a gas station is damaged after Cambodia fired artillery shells in Sisaket province, Thailand (Pic credit: AP) Thailand warned its conflict with neighbouring Cambodia could "potentially develop into a war" as troops used rockets and artillery to shell targets along their contested border for a second day. Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters Friday that the severity of the clashes was escalating, endangering civilians, and Thailand was committed to defending its territory and sovereignty. "This situation could potentially develop into a war," Phumtham said. "At present, it is still considered an armed clash involving heavy weaponry." Cambodian PM Hun Manet said his country was ready for a ceasefire but accused Bangkok of backing out of a deal brokered by Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, as the current chair of regional group Asean. The truce had been set for early Friday, he said. A long-running border dispute between the two neighbours erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, and the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday. A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian - a 70-year-old man - had been killed and five more wounded. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing Older Women should Avoid Learn More Undo More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities - 14 civilians and a soldier - with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops. Both sides have blamed each other for starting the conflict and on Friday ratcheted up the rhetoric, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilians and Cambodia alleging Thailand was using cluster munitions, a controversial and widely condemned ordnance. While the US, China, and Malaysia have reached out to both parties, no country has publicly emerged yet as a mediator. Officials in Bangkok are intent on resolving the hostilities bilaterally, foreign ministry officials said Friday. "We do appreciate their kind offers and do not rule them all out," Russ Jalichandra, vice minister for foreign affairs, told Bloomberg News, adding that China, US and Malaysia had offered to help.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Maldives' Muizzu condemns Pahalgam terror attack, vows closer security ties with India, says Vikram Misri
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu reiterated his condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and affirmed his country's commitment to work with India on security issues, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday. read more Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said that Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu again condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Misri, while addressing a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs on Prime Minister's visit to Maldives said that Muizzu reiterated the importance Maldives attaches to security-related issues and expressed commitment to work together. Misri said, 'On the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu reiterated the Maldives' condemnation of the attack and support of the people of the Maldives, with India following this attack. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu expressed his commitment to the importance that the Maldives attaches to security-related issues and the commitment of the two sides to continue to work together. There is quite a high frequency of contacts between security authorities of the two countries and the engagement at various levels. This remains an important issue, and we continue to work very closely together with the Maldives on any issues that might impinge on not just our security, but our common security in this region that we share.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi thanked President Muizzu for his strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, and the solidarity extended to India in the fight against terrorism. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. India repelled subsequent Pakistani military aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to cessation of hostilities following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. On April 22, terrorists attacked a group of civilians in the scenic town of Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26 and wounding at least 17 others. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the Maldives at the invitation of President Muizzu.
