Jaishankar Concludes US Visit, Shares Video Featuring Snatches From Trip
New Delhi: Concluding his week-long visit to the United States,
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday posted a video on social
media platform X, sharing the highlights from his trip.
In a post on X, Jaishankar tagged a video with a message that read, "India and
US: Expanding Horizons. As I conclude a visit to Washington D.C."
India and US: Expanding Horizons.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 1, 2023
As I conclude a visit to Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/wFlEdWrDg7
The video showed glimpses from Jaishankar's meetings in Washington, DC with
the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin,
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai,
among others.
The External Affairs Minister discussed India-US bilateral defence cooperation
and global security challenges with Lloyd Austin.
“Delighted to meet Secretary of Defense @SecDefLlyod Austin. Productive
conversation on our bilateral defence cooperation. Useful exchange on global
security challenges,” he posted on X.
Throughout his stay in Washington, DC, Jaishankar was accompanied by India's
envoy to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
The EAM also met members of the Congress, administration, business and think
tank heads at India House there. He also had "productive discussions" with
think tanks in Washington, DC, discussing India-US collaboration in the
emerging technology space and building resilient supply chains.
On Thursday, the EAM held a meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake
Sullivan.
Both sides recognized the tremendous progress in bilateral relations this year
and held discussions on taking it forward.
Jaishankar posted on X, "Began my Washington DC visit with a meeting with NSA
@JakeSullivan46. Recognized the tremendous progress in our bilateral
relationship this year and discussed taking it forward."
The Indian diplomat on Saturday, addressed the Indian diaspora at the ‘Colours
of Friendship’ event at India House in Washington, DC.
Hailing India's success in hosting the G20 summit this year, Jaishankar said
India's approach to the international summit was a success of the India-US
partnership.
Jaishankar emphasised the “support and understanding” India received from the
United States to successfully host the G20 summit. Hundreds of diaspora
members gathered at the official residence of India's envoy to the US,
Taranjit Singh Sandhu, to welcome Jaishankar at the event.
Jaishankar said at the event, "The support and the understanding that we got
from the United States to make a successful G20, I think that is something I
would certainly like to recognise in public, in Washington. So it may have
been our (Indian) success in a literal way. But I think, to me, the success of
the G20 was also a success of the India-US partnership.”
The EAM also made several remarks about the legacy of Gandhi. Referring to
India’s G20 presidency, the EAM stated that India's presidency revolved around
the message of Mahatma Gandhi, which focuses on doing the right thing and
leaving no one behind.
"We are approaching Gandhi Jayanti; I would like to leave you a thought. To
say he (Mahatma Gandhi) was an extraordinary man would be the understatement
of this century. He said so many things so tellingly... The message at the end
of the day was about doing the right thing, about doing the decent thing, and
about leaving no one behind. Gandhi Ji's message is very complicated, but its
essence is actually very, very simple,” Jaishankar said.
Several senior officials of the Biden administration, including US Surgeon
General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, President
Biden's domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden, and Director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy Rahul Gupta, were part of the
reception.
US lawmakers Shri Thanedar and Rick McCormick, Democrat and Republican, were
also present at the event. Jaishankar also addressed the 4th World Culture
Festival being organised by the Art of Living on September 30.
Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden visited New Delhi to attend the G20
Summit under India's Presidency. During the visit, Biden met Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and discussed issues ranging from defence cooperation, and
technology sharing.
The US President also congratulated India on the success of its lunar landing
mission — Chandrayaan-3. During the visit, India and the US also settled the
seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute. Notably,
the six previous disputes were resolved during PM Modi's state visit to the
US.
The two leaders called on their governments to continue the work of
transforming the India-US Strategic Partnership across all dimensions of our
multifaceted global agenda, based on trust and mutual understanding.
After the meeting, both the leaders lauded the India-US relations saying that
the friendship between the two nations will continue to play a great role in
furthering global good.
Notably, Jaishankar was on a visit to the US from September 22–30.
He addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New
York while also holding meetings with several top US officials during his
visit.
During his address, the EAM said “political convenience” should not be
countenanced in determining responses to terrorism and extremism in an
apparent reference to Canada amid a diplomatic standoff between the two
countries.
He added that respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in
internal affairs cannot be exercised in cherry-picking.
Jaishnankar said there is a thrust on the promotion of a rules-based order and
respect for the UN Charter is also invoked and that rules will work only when
they apply equally to all.
“But for all the talk, it is still a few nations who shape the agenda and seek
to define the norms. This cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go
unchallenged. A fair, equitable and democratic order will surely emerge, once
we all put our minds to it. And for a start, that means ensuring that
rule-makers do not subjugate rule-takers. After all, rules will work only when
they apply equally to all,” he said.
He further called on the United Nations to ring in urgent reforms to stay
relevant in the modern world saying that the issue cannot remain "indefinite"
and "unchallenged".
No comments:
Post a Comment