New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions on India’s ties with the European Union and the Czech Republic, Indo-Pacific issue, food and energy security, and digital cooperation, during his visit to Slovakia and the Czech Republic, in a bid to impart further momentum to the bilateral relations, news agency ANI reported. He began his engagement in Prague by meeting a delegation of Czech members of European Parliament (MEPs).
Taking to his Twitter handle, Jaishankar wrote, “Began my engagements in Prague by meeting a delegation of Czech MEPs. A good discussion on India’s ties with EU and the Czech Republic, the Indo-Pacific, food and energy security and digital cooperation.”
Began my engagements in Prague by meeting a delegation of Czech MEPs.
A good discussion on India’s ties with EU and the Czech Republic, the Indo-Pacific, food and energy security and digital cooperation. pic.twitter.com/99n1R3SEAS
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 5, 2022
Jaishankar, after his meeting with the delegation of Czech MEPs, thanked them for taking out time on a Sunday.
“Thank @ZahradilJan, @TomasZdechovsky, @vonpecka and @vrecionova for taking time out on a Sunday,” he said in another tweet.
According to report, the External Affairs Minister also held discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavsky, during his visit.
A warm and productive meeting with Czech FM @JanLipavsky.
As Czech Republic takes over EU Presidency, discussed taking India- EU partnership forward. pic.twitter.com/v7ea1Ufu3P
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 5, 2022
Apart from this, Jaishankar will also interact with a cross-section of the diaspora, that includes Indian students in the Czech Republic.
It is to be noted that the External Affairs Minister’s visit comes in the wake of Europe grappling with the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This issue is likely to figure in his talks in the Czech Republic, as per reports.
Meanwhile, India said that Europe must not see crude oil imports from Russia from a political lens.
Speaking at Globsec 2022 Bratislava forum, Jaishankar said, “We don’t send people to buy Russian oil, we send people to buy oil in the market, buy the best oil.”
Refuting reports of trans-shipment of Russian fuel from India, he said, “Understand the oil market, there is an enormous shortage of oil, there is a physical shortage of oil, access to oil is difficult, a country like India would be crazy to get the oil from somebody else and sell to somebody else, this is nonsense.”
He added, “Europe has to grow up out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problem but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problem, it is you it’s yours, it is me it’s ours.”