India's Proximity Archives
Date: August 21, 2024
South Asia
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba is visiting India from August 18 to 22. She held bilateral talks with India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar on August 19, in which they reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and also discussed opportunities for further collaboration in the existing and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation. Both Foreign Ministers noted the unprecedented opportunities in power sector cooperation that would be available on implementation of the Long-Term Power Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, India has accepted an additional 251 MW of electricity exports from Nepal, bringing the total to 1,000 MW. Minister Deuba also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba is visiting India from August 18 to 22. She held bilateral talks with India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar on August 19, in which they reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and also discussed opportunities for further collaboration in the existing and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation. Both Foreign Ministers noted the unprecedented opportunities in power sector cooperation that would be available on implementation of the Long-Term Power Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, India has accepted an additional 251 MW of electricity exports from Nepal, bringing the total to 1,000 MW. Minister Deuba also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Southeast Asia
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited New Delhi, India, his first visit to the South Asian region, on August 20, 2024. During his visit, he met with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, marking the first meeting between the two Prime Ministers. The leaders upgraded the bilateral relations to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ and discussed areas of cooperation like semiconductor, fintech, defence industry, AI, and quantum technology. The delegation led by the Malaysian Prime Minister included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan; the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Minister of Tourism, Art & Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo and Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Steven Sim.
East Asia
The third India-Japan 2 2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting was convened in New Delhi, India on August 20, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister of Defense of Japan, Mr. Kihara Minoru, Minister of Defence of India, Shri Rajnath Singh, and Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar. The ministers held wide-ranging discussions on regional and global issues, bilateral security and defence cooperation, the role of women in preventing conflict, and people-to-people exchanges. The joint statement noted progress made for the transfer of Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) and related technologies.
West Asia
On August 18, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Kuwait. He met the country’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. The two sides discussed ways to deepen their bilateral relationship, particularly in trade and investment, pharma, technology, and education. Streamlining labour and manpower issues was also discussed.
Central Asia
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart as part of a two-day trip to secure Moscow’s under-pressure trade routes and shore up ties in the region, on August 19, 2024. President Putin reaffirmed his support in facilitating the signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to resolve logistical and economic issues. Additionally, business links were high on the agenda, with President Aliyev announcing that $120 million had been earmarked to boost cargo transport between the two countries. Several documents were signed, including agreements on climate change, low-carbon development, and investment promotion.
Indian Ocean Region
Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation Navy, is on an official visit to India from August 19 to 22, 2024. Upon his arrival, he was received by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy in New Delhi. Both naval leaders engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing the existing cooperation between the Russian and Indian navies. Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev met the Chief of Defence Staff, the Defence Secretary, the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, and the National Maritime Security Coordinator of India, as part of his official engagements in New Delhi. In addition, he is visiting Mumbai, where he will hold bilateral discussions with the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, as well as visit indigenous warships and submarines.
