Lisbon: Lisbon: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted the need for direct air connectivity between India and Portugal to expand bilateral exchanges, as he addressed the Indian diaspora in Portugal during his ongoing tour of Europe.
Jaishankar, who was here on the first leg of his four-day visit to Portugal and Italy, was joined by his Portuguese counterpart, Joao Gomes Cravinho, during his meeting with the community on Wednesday.
During his address, Jaishankar said he highlighted the contribution of Portugal towards closer ties between India and the European Union (EU) and also shared the transformation underway in India.
Addressed the Indian Community in Portugal. Thank FM @JoaoCravinho for joining, Jaishankar posted on X.
Highlighted Portugal's contribution in promoting closer India-EU ties. The Porto 2021 Summit is a milestone. Recognised the relevance of the Migration and Mobility Partnership in a Global workplace, he said.
Appreciated the need for direct air connectivity. Shared the transformation underway in India that provides new opportunities for cooperation. Urged the community to contribute to the 50th anniversary celebrations of our diplomatic ties, he added.
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Addressed the Indian Community in Portugal. Thank FM @JoaoCravinho for joining.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 1, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Highlighted 🇵🇹’s contribution in promoting closer India-EU ties. The Porto 2021 Summit is a milestone.
Recognized the relevance of the Migration and Mobility Partnership in a Global workplace.… pic.twitter.com/Gvp53w6zYX
">Addressed the Indian Community in Portugal. Thank FM @JoaoCravinho for joining.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 1, 2023
Highlighted 🇵🇹’s contribution in promoting closer India-EU ties. The Porto 2021 Summit is a milestone.
Recognized the relevance of the Migration and Mobility Partnership in a Global workplace.… pic.twitter.com/Gvp53w6zYXAddressed the Indian Community in Portugal. Thank FM @JoaoCravinho for joining.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 1, 2023
Highlighted 🇵🇹’s contribution in promoting closer India-EU ties. The Porto 2021 Summit is a milestone.
Recognized the relevance of the Migration and Mobility Partnership in a Global workplace.… pic.twitter.com/Gvp53w6zYX
On Tuesday, Jaishankar discussed contemporary challenges and the further development of bilateral ties with Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
We see a lot of new energy and activities across several sectors. Trade and investment is clearly a strong driving force. Indian companies like Indian IT companies, especially, have made their mark in Portugal, Jaishankar said as part of the joint press statement with Portugal's foreign minister on Tuesday.
Jaishankar said the Joint Economic Committee would be asked to follow up on some of the discussions that the two leaders had and see what more we could do in health, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy.
We also discussed defence cooperation, start-ups, and innovation as well. There was some talk between us on direct air connectivity because that is today a missing piece in the relationship, he said.
We're very confident that our exchanges will expand once we can make progress on that. And both of us put a lot of weight on the development of tourism, and that too would grow with direct air connectivity.
The two sides reviewed the implementation of the Agreement on the recruitment of Indian citizens to work in Portugal.
"I do want to say that we have always regarded Portugal as one of our key partners in the European Union. The first-ever India-EU Summit was actually held in 2000 under the Portuguese presidency. The first-ever India-EU at a 27 leadership Summit was also held in 2021 under the Portuguese presidency," the joint statement quoted Jaishankar as saying.
"So we count very much on the Portuguese support for our FTA negotiations with the EU that are underway," he said.
Addressed the Indian Community in Portugal. Thank FM @JoaoCravinho for joining, Jaishankar posted on X. Highlighted Portugal's contribution in promoting closer India-EU ties. The Porto 2021 Summit is a milestone. Recognized the relevance of the Migration and Mobility Partnership in a Global workplace, he said.
Appreciated the need for direct air connectivity. Shared the transformation underway in India that provides new opportunities for cooperation. Urged the community to contribute to the 50th anniversary celebrations of our diplomatic ties, he added. On Tuesday, the minister discussed contemporary challenges and the further development of bilateral ties with Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
He also conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his interaction with the Portuguese PM. Jaishankar, who arrived here on the first leg of his four-day visit to Portugal and Italy with an aim to further bolster India's bilateral ties with the two key European nations, also appreciated Portugal's support for India-EU ties.
"Productive talks with FM @JoaoCravinho in Lisbon. Noted the progress in our bilateral economic cooperation. Appreciated the sustained political exchanges and Portugal's support for India-EU ties," he said in a post on X on Tuesday. "Transformations underway in India can help take our partnership to a higher level. Cooperating on the global workplace and the digital domain offer great potential.
Exchanged views on West Asia, Ukraine, Central Asia and the Indo-Pacific," he added. Earlier, the minister met Augusto Santos Silva, the President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, and discussed the importance of two democracies cooperating closely in a volatile world.
"Delighted to meet @ASantosSilvaPAR, President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic today morning in Lisbon. Have always valued his strong support for our bilateral ties. Discussed the importance of our two democracies cooperating closely in a volatile world," Jaishankar said in another post.
He then proceeded to some diaspora engagements and paid floral tributes at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife, Kasturba, in front of the Temple Radha Krishna in Lisbon. Offered my tributes to Bapu and Kasturba Gandhi in Lisbon, the EAM posted with images.
From Portugal, Jaishankar will travel to Italy where he will meet his counterpart Antonio Tajani, Minister of Defence and Minister for 'Made in Italy'. The relationship between the two countries was elevated to 'Strategic Partnership' during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to New Delhi in March.
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