External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday to attend the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Jaishankar’s visit marks the beginning of his two-day trip to Saudi Arabia, which is part of a broader three-nation tour that will also include Germany and Switzerland.
Upon his arrival, Jaishankar was received by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al Smari. Jaishankar took to social media platform X to express his gratitude, writing, “Arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to take part in the First India – Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.” He further thanked Abdulmajeed Al Smari for the “warm reception.”
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Purpose of the Visit
During his stay in Riyadh, Jaishankar is expected to engage in bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from the GCC member countries. The discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation and strengthening ties between India and the Gulf region. According to a release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “The GCC region has emerged as a major trading partner for India and is home to a large Indian expatriate community, numbering around 8.9 million. The Foreign Ministers meeting will be an opportunity to review and deepen institutional cooperation between India and the GCC across various sectors.”
The GCC, a significant regional bloc, includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. In the financial year 2022-23, trade between India and GCC countries reached USD 184.46 billion, underscoring the economic importance of this relationship.
Upcoming UNGA Address by Jaishankar
In addition to his visit to Saudi Arabia, Jaishankar is scheduled to address the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 28. This speech was originally slated to be delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, a revised provisional list released by the UN now lists Jaishankar as the speaker.
Prime Minister Modi was initially set to address the General Debate on September 26, according to the provisional list issued in July. The updated schedule indicates that Modi will travel to New York later this month to participate in a major community event on September 22 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island. He will also address the UN’s “Summit of the Future,” which will be held at the UN headquarters on September 22 and 23.
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