Jaishankar holds talks with G4 leaders on UNSC reform

G4 reaffirmed its commitment for an urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through text-based negotiations…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his counterparts from Brazil, Germany, and Japan in New York to reaffirm the commitment of the G4 grouping of nations to urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through text-based negotiations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The G4 countries comprise Brazil, Germany, India and Japan.

The External Affairs Minister shared a picture of the meeting on X and wrote, “Glad to join the traditional #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting along with colleagues @ABaerbock , @Kamikawa_Yoko and Mauro Vieira in New York today. G4 reaffirmed its commitment for an urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through text-based negotiations.”

In addition to the G4 meeting, Jaishankar also held talks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, discussing energy, health, and economic cooperation between India and Venezuela.

“Pleased to meet FM @yvangil of Venezuela today on the sidelines of #UNGA79. Discussed energy, health and economic cooperation, as well as reformed multilateralism,” Jaishankar said on X.

On Monday, Jaishankar had met with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain and discussed a range of issues related to mutual interests between Bangladesh and India.

On the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the two diplomats discussed a range of issues on strengthening the long-standing ties between the neighbouring nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, announced the meeting in X, formerly Twitter, emphasising the ongoing partnership between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, is in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

The general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly opens on September 24 and will continue through September 28 and conclude on September 30.

The theme for the general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,” according to UN Nations official statment.

Opening amid growing calls for more international cooperation to address challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while also tackling the fallout from ongoing conflicts and global health crises, the session will see world leaders heading to New York to deliver their statements in the iconic Assembly Hall. (ANI)

EAM meets officials from across world  

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has met officials from Asia, Europe and Latin America on the sidelines of the UN high-level meetings to promote bilateral relations and to exchange views on international and regional issues.

He started with new Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro of France, a country with which India has close strategic and diplomatic ties.

He wrote on X after the meeting that they had “a useful exchange of views on major regional issues”. Barro was appointed foreign minister last week by Prime Minister Michel Barnier who took over after the snap elections.

After his meeting with “dear friend” European Union Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra, EAM Jaishankar posted on X, “Appreciate his support for deepening India-European Union partnership”. Hoekstra wrote on X, “We look forward to closely working together and further enhancing India-European Union relations in the domains of geopolitics, climate and business.”

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, said on X after meeting EAM Jaishankar, “India is an essential global actor and priority partner for Spain.” “We discussed our bilateral relations, including trade and culture. Also the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific,” he posted.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg of Malta, posted on X that he discussed with EAM Jaishankar the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month in Samoa and how the group to which both countries belong can find “global solutions to pressing global and regional challenges, from sustainable development to the protection of human rights”.

They also talked about “further intensifying synergies in areas of mutual interest, including ongoing efforts to expand trade relations between our two countries”, he added.

The EAM said on X after meeting Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, “We focussed on ongoing developments in West Asia and their larger implications.” Ukraine came up during the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi of Moldova, a neighbour of that country.

Jaishankar wrote, “Discussed deepening our partnership in pharmaceuticals, health, education, capacity building and trade.”

Following his meeting with Bolivia’s Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda, the EAM posted that they spoke about “advancing our bilateral cooperation”. “Our bilateral partnership has been steadily progressing in various dimensions,” EAM Jaishankar wrote after meeting Hugh Hilton Todd, the foreign minister of Guayana, a country with a large diaspora.

Closer to India, Yemen’s Vice President Aidaros Alzubidi wrote on X after his meeting with the EAM that they had an “important discussion on overlapping interests on regional stability and maritime security, including in the Red Sea”.

“India’s role on the global stage is critical and a partnership I look forward to developing,” he added. Jaishankar wrote on X that he assured him of “India’s support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Yemen”.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Yemen is torn by a civil war and its fallout puts shipping in the area at risk.

ALSO READ: Jaishankar Cements Global Ties at UN