S Jaishankar US visit: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar left on Friday on his nine-day US tour. Jaishankar will lead the high-level Indian delegation to the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in America. According to the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, he will remain in New York till September 26.
On the same day he will address the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Jaishankar will participate in various multilateral and bilateral meetings during the US tour. He will also interact with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
In this tour, India will also emphasize on furthering the interests of the developing countries of Asia, South America and Africa (Global South). In the recently concluded G-20 countries meeting in New Delhi, India had emphasized on increasing contacts with the developing countries of the world and played an important role in getting permanent membership of the grouping to the African Union.
The ministry said, ‘In view of India’s support towards the economically weak and developing countries of the world, the Ministry of External Affairs will also organize a special program named ‘India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development’.
The importance of Jaishankar’s visit to America has increased amid the sourness in diplomatic relations between India and Canada. The foreign minister will also hold talks with foreign ministers of many other countries including western countries. It is understood that the issue of Canada may come up in these meetings. Sources said there are no plans to meet with Canadian officials at this time.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also came to participate in the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. His tour was completed on Thursday. It is believed that he has mentioned the allegations made against India along with Canada’s allied countries.
India has been continuously calling for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council. It is believed that this will also strengthen India’s campaign to get a permanent seat in the Security Council during Jaishankar’s visit. On Thursday, the foreign ministers of the BRICS nations called for comprehensive expansion of the UN Security Council.
This year, in the United Nations General Assembly session, special emphasis is being laid on intensifying efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030. Efforts towards this goal have slowed down due to the slowdown in economic activity in the world after the Covid pandemic and conflicts between Ukraine and developing countries, among other reasons.
Jaishankar will visit Washington from 27 to 30 September. During this, he will hold bilateral meetings with American negotiators. He will also talk to top officials of the US administration including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The Foreign Ministry said that Jaishankar will talk to American industrialists and think tanks. He will also address the fourth ‘World Culture Festival’ organized by the Art of Living.
First Published : September 22, 2023 | 11:09 PM IST
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