EAM Jaishankar meets Singapore top brass, reviews progress of PM Modi's 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. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
India slams UK parliamentary report on ‘Transnational Repression' as baseless, cites dubious sources
NEW DELHI: India on Friday strongly rejected a British parliamentary panel's report that accused it of engaging in "transnational repression' within the United Kingdom, calling the allegations baseless and rooted in anti-India propaganda. 'We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations,' said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a strong rebuttal. The UK report, published by a parliamentary committee, had cited India among several countries allegedly involved in targeting dissidents abroad. However, New Delhi dismissed the credibility of the report, asserting that its claims were based on 'unverified and dubious sources.' 'These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility,' Jaiswal said. 'The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'No formal talks yet with US on F-35 buy': Government in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: India has not had any formal talks with the US over the purchase of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, the external affairs ministry informed the Lok Sabha Friday. Responding to a written query, MoS (MEA) Kirti Vardhan Singh said the India-US joint statement following the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Feb 2025 had mentioned that US will undertake a review of its policy on selling fifth-generation fighters (such as the F-35) and undersea systems to India. "No formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue," added the minister. A news agency reported on Thursday that India had told the US that it is not interested in purchasing the F-35 jets. The minister was also asked whether the govt has reviewed the dynamics relating to US military assistance proposals and India's autonomy in terms of foreign policy, given its strategic implications, especially in a conflict scenario involving third-party mediation. The minister responded by saying that the India-US partnership has benefited from growing strategic convergence & cooperation and that India closely evaluates all its external partnerships, including those in the defence and strategic domains, through the prism of its national interest and commitment to strategic autonomy. "India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is anchored in mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement between our citizens," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like San Ramon: How Much Does It Cost To Replace Old Windows? Beautiful Energy-Efficient Windows Learn More Undo As regards third-party mediation, the minister said that it has been India's longstanding position that any outstanding issue with Pakistan will be discussed only at a bilateral level. "This has been made clear to all nations, including by the PM to the US president," he said.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Amid criticism, India backs strategic ties with US
India underscored the depth of long-standing ties with the US while defending its relationship with Russia and energy purchases from that country. US President Donald Trump and secretary of state Marco Rubio have been critical of India buying oil from Russia. Trump has also been attacking India's trade stance ahead of the US imposing a 25% tariff on the country's goods. "India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a briefing in the capital on Friday. "This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward." He underscored the military ties between the two countries."We have a strong defence partnership with the US which has been strengthening over the last several years," Jaiswal said. "There is potential for this partnership to grow further under the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century."This was a reference to the initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump during their February summit in Washington DC--Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology for the 21st Century or COMPACT. This will "drive transformative change across key pillars of cooperation," including defence industry cooperation. However, Jaiswal said that the "sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments." He didn't mention F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin that the US wants India to said the relationship with Russia was a longstanding one. "India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership," he said. "Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country."When asked about a report on Indian state-run oil refiners pausing purchases of Russian oil, Jaiswal said, "In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances."Rubio had on Thursday said that India's purchase of oil from Russia is "most certainly a point of irritation" in ties between the two countries. He told Fox Radio that this was helping to sustain Moscow's war effort in Ukraine."Look, global trade... India is an ally. It's a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you're not going to align 100% of the time on everything," Rubio said when asked if President Trump was "upset" with India getting a "great portion" of the discounted oil from Russia. "India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap and... they're selling it under the global price because of the sanctions. And that, unfortunately, is helping to sustain the Russian war effort," Rubio said.
