Astana: India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday to discuss global hotspots and their broader implications, alongside the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Jaishankar is in Kazakhstan representing India at the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and conducting various bilateral meetings on the sidelines. He also met his Belarusian and Tajikistan counterparts, Maksim Ryzhenkov and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, respectively.
“Always a pleasure to meet UNSG @antonioguterres. Appreciate his insights on the state of the world. Discussed global hotspots and their larger implications,” Jaishankar posted on the social media platform X.
He added that they spoke about the reform of the UNSC, preparations for the upcoming ‘Summit of the Future’ in September, and prospects for a meaningful India-UN partnership.
Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Tajikistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Russia. During his meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the steady progress in India-Uzbekistan relations and discussed ways to elevate the partnership to a higher level.
“Glad to meet Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin today in Astana. Took stock of our bilateral partnership and cooperation on multilateral forums. Appreciate the exchange of views on the regional situation,” Jaishankar posted on X along with photos of the meeting.
Also Read | ICJ Allows France, UK, and Others to Intervene in Myanmar Genocide Trial
“Pleased to meet FM Maksim Ryzhenkov of Belarus today. Welcome Belarus to the SCO as its newest member. Discussed our bilateral relationship and its future growth potential,” the Minister posted earlier on X.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Ryzhenkov came shortly after the first-ever India-Belarus Consular Dialogue, held on June 28 in Minsk. “The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Aman Puri, JS (CPV), while the Belarusian delegation was led by Andrei Kozhan, Head of General Directorate for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Also Read | Heatwave to Sizzle a Quarter of the US During Fourth of July Weekend
With nine member states—India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—the SCO has emerged as an influential economic and security bloc and one of the largest trans-regional international organizations. Belarus will become the 10th nation to join as a member.
Kazakhstan is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, underscoring its pivotal role in guiding the agenda and fostering cooperation among member states.
