India Strengthens Ties with Visegrad Group at UN General Assembly
Historic Meeting at the UN General Assembly
File image of EAM Jaishankar alongside the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia during the inaugural V4+India meeting on the sidelines of UNGA
(Photo: @ExcellencyEnvoy/X)
United Nations, Sep 22: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar characterized the inaugural meeting between India and the four-member Visegrad group as a "new historic occasion" as he commenced his activities during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
During this initial gathering, India and the Visegrad group agreed to enhance collaboration in political, economic, and defense sectors. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The Visegrad Group (V4) comprises the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, focusing on fostering cooperation in military, economic, cultural, and energy domains.
Jaishankar participated alongside Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Radek Sikorski, Hungary's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar, and Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.
"This was, in many ways, a new historic occasion," Jaishankar remarked following the meeting.
Having arrived in New York City on Sunday, Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation at the 81st UN General Assembly session.
"The meeting was exceptionally productive. We reached an agreement that, given India's deepening relationship with the European Union, we would initiate special projects with the V4 to establish an annual business forum," he stated, noting a consensus for annual meetings among the foreign ministers of the five nations.
"We will also investigate opportunities in technology and innovation to enhance our collaboration. Our historical ties with the V4 countries in defense are strong, and we aim to revitalize and advance that cooperation," Jaishankar added.
The discussions also covered topics such as space, connectivity, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
Jaishankar described the meeting as "very worthwhile" and "highly productive," with a focus on cooperation and addressing significant global challenges, including the Ukraine crisis and developments in the Gulf region.
"It was indeed a very productive meeting, and I am quite pleased with the outcomes," he expressed to reporters after the discussions.
In a post on X, Jaishankar highlighted that the inaugural V4+India meeting agreed on closer political collaboration, including annual foreign ministers' meetings, and deeper economic ties, including the establishment of the Annual Business Forum.
The nations also committed to enhancing partnerships in technology, innovation, research, and education; revitalizing defense cooperation; furthering cultural exchanges; and supporting multilateralism, he noted.
Jaishankar emphasized that India maintains "very good" relations with the V4 countries.
"These nations possess strong and distinctive capabilities. They are industrial economies with significant innovation and technological talent. The manner in which the V4 collaborates is for them to determine, but we certainly welcome the opportunity to work together," he told reporters.
Following the first V4+India foreign ministers' meeting, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar remarked, "As V4 countries, we unanimously agree that India, representing the Global South and emerging as a superpower in the Indo-Pacific, deserves a permanent seat at the UN Security Council."