EAM Jaishankar Engages with Russian and Chinese Counterparts at G20 Summit in Johannesburg
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Synopsis
In Johannesburg, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with foreign ministers including Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting, engaging in discussions on bilateral ties and global challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Jaishankar met with various foreign ministers in Johannesburg.
- Discussions focused on bilateral relations and global issues.
- Brazil's BRICS presidency was a topic of conversation.
- India and Brazil share a strong partnership in global forums.
- G20 meeting emphasizes solidarity and equality among nations.
Johannesburg, Feb 20 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged with several foreign ministers, including Sergei Lavrov (Russia), Wang Yi (China), and Penny Wong (Australia), during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Johannesburg on Thursday.
He also conversed with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Singapore FM Vivian Balakrishnan, and various other dignitaries present at the event.
"Great to see colleagues from around the globe," the EAM shared on X, accompanied by several photos of informal discussions with his counterparts.
"Catching up with fellow Foreign Ministers at the G20 meeting," Jaishankar remarked in another X post.
Earlier, the EAM conferred with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, addressing bilateral relations, global issues, collaborative work in the G20, and Brazil's BRICS Presidency.
Brazil took over the BRICS presidency, a significant platform for political and economic collaboration among Global South nations, on January 1, 2025.
BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has recently welcomed new members including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia.
India and Brazil maintain a robust and multifaceted partnership at both bilateral and multilateral levels, participating in forums such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, G-4, IBSA, and the International Solar Alliance.
Additionally, EAM Jaishankar had a meeting with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, on the sidelines of the G20 FMM.
"Always a productive dialogue with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore, this time in Johannesburg during the G20 FMM. We discussed global affairs and our efforts to enhance bilateral relations," he posted on X.
India-Singapore ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore in September 2024.
The External Affairs Minister arrived in Johannesburg earlier to take part in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) at the invitation of South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
"The EAM’s participation in the G20 FMM is set to fortify India's interactions with G20 nations and amplify the voice of the Global South within this crucial forum. The EAM is anticipated to engage in several bilateral meetings alongside the FMM," stated a release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
This meeting marks the inaugural Foreign Ministers' Meeting during South Africa's G20 Presidency, themed 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.'
South Africa's G20 Presidency commenced on December 1, 2024, and will last until November 30, just five years prior to the deadline of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda.
Upon assuming the role, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa's G20 Presidency occurs amid a series of interlinked crises, including climate change, underdevelopment, inequality, poverty, hunger, unemployment, technological shifts, and geopolitical instability.
