India and Saudi Arabia are expected to strengthen their defence cooperation and expand their economic partnership, currently valued at nearly USD 43 billion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Kingdom on April 22 and 23, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia will be a key opportunity to discuss regional tensions, including Houthi attacks on maritime shipping and the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Despite the ongoing regional security situation, India remains committed to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, adding that progress on IMEC is not frozen, despite appearances. "We have worked with select partners on IMEC."
During the special briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit a factory employing Indian workers and will interact with them as well during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador Md led the Bangladesh side. Jashim Uddin, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and the Pakistan side was led by Ambassador Amna Baloch, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday to discuss bilateral issues. She will hold bilateral talks with Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin on Thursday.
Following the Israeli missile strike on Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the attack, and said that "deplorable attacks must end."
Bangladesh's foreign secretary Md. Jashim Uddin has described the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meet in Bangkok as an important step forward.
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday expressed concerns over the detention and refusal of entry of two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel, calling it "unacceptable" and "counterproductive."
India and Sri Lanka on Saturday signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stating that there is a recognition at the leadership level that the security interests of India and Sri Lanka are interlinked.
Addressing a special briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, Misri said that during his talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, PM Modi emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the issue and suggested that some recent actions taken by Sri