Ghana
According to a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan concluded his two-day visit to Ghana on Thursday. During the visit, he participated in the swearing-in ceremony of President (elect) H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Afuko-Addo. Following the event, he convened with Afuko-Addo “to discuss various bilateral, regional and international issues.”
On the first day of his visit, Muraleedharan met with members of the Malayalee Association of Ghana and the Indian Association of Ghana. He also inaugurated the Pravasiya Bharatiya Diwas event, which was hosted by the High Commissioner.
India’s friendship with Ghana dates back to pre-Independence days. Since then, their diplomatic relationship has only expanded. India and Ghana have also maintained deep social and cultural ties, with several Ghanaians travelling to India for education every year. Furthermore, India is one of the five largest trading partners of Ghana, with bilateral trade surging up to $2.4 billion in 2020.
Germany
On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual discussion with his German counterpart, Angela Merkel. A statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “The two leaders discussed key issues of mutual importance including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral ties, regional and global issues, particularly India-EU relations.
During the discussion, the two leaders also discussed India’s progress on vaccine development. Furthermore, Modi reassured Merkel of India’s commitment to using its capacity as a front-runner in the pharmaceutical market to meet the global demand for vaccines.
Moreover, Modi welcomed Germany’s recent participation in the India-led International Solar Alliance. The two leaders also celebrated the completion of 70 years of bilateral relations and 20 years of “Strategic Partnership” between the two countries. Consequently, they agreed to convene for the sixth Inter-Governmental Consultations in the next few months, for which the two leaders have sought to set an “ambitious agenda.”
Vietnam
Indian and Vietnamese Coast Guards conducted a high-level meeting on Wednesday to discuss their joint commitment to strengthening their bilateral relationships, specifically on the issues of “transnational crimes, capacity building, and ship visits.” The meeting was co-chaired by Indian Coast Guard Director General K. Natarajan and Lieutenant-General and Commandant of the Vietnamese Coast Guard, Nguyen Van Son.
This comes merely a month after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich, to discuss the future trajectory of their relations. During this meeting, the two sides also signed an implementation agreement (IA) on hydrograph.
Historically, India and Vietnam have shared a warm diplomatic relationship with several high-level meetings taking place all year round. This friendship is only growing stronger, specifically in light of the threat faced by both countries by China’s aggressive foreign policy. Vietnam has previously granted India permission to expand its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea (SCS), in the areas that it firmly believes fall well within Vietnam’s economic zone. Vietnam’s claim to the SCS is disputed by China’s assertion of its controversial nine-dash line, which infringes on maritime territory claimed by Vietnam. Additionally, the MEA also stated earlier this year that India had approved 12 quick impact projects (QIPs) for implementation in Vietnam. Seven of these projects are in water resource management in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta Region and five are related to the construction of educational infrastructure in Vietnam.
Nepal
On Wednesday, representatives of the Indian Embassy at Nepal met with a delegation from the Nepalese Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration and Rural Municipality of Chankheli-Darma of Humla. During the meeting, the leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding to construct a laboratory and a library in the Chankheli-Darma region. The Indian Embassy released a statement saying, “As close neighbours, India and Nepal share unique ties of friendship and cooperation. Today’s signing of the MoU reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India in complementing the efforts of the Government of Nepal in creating infrastructure in priority sectors.”
The MoU is in furtherance the Indian government’s decision to extend its grant of Rs. 44.13 million to Nepal under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Development Partnership, which also led to the establishment of the High Impact Community Development Project scheme. As a result of this scheme, since 2003, 428 projects relating to health, education, transportation, and sanitation have been completed by India.
Japan
On the same day, the central government also approved a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan, which aims to establish a mechanism to facilitate the movement of skilled workers from India to Japan. Indian workers will now be granted the status of a “specified skilled worker.” According to a statement by the Indian government, “The idea is to enhance people-to-people contacts, foster mobility of workers and skilled professionals from India to Japan.”
According to the Memorandum of Cooperation, the two sides will work towards establishing a Joint Working Group, which will focus on sending and accepting skilled Indian workers, specifically in fourteen sectors, which includes nursing care, building cleaning, material processing industry and the electric and electronic information industry.
Fiji
On Saturday, India completed the delivery of its first consignment of relief material to Fiji, which was recently ravaged by a cyclone. On December 17, Cyclone Yasa, a Category 5 cyclone, hit Fiji, causing widespread damage and destruction to infrastructure. A second consignment with shelter and hygiene kits were also delivered on Wednesday.
According to a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, 6 tonnes of supplies were delivered by the Indian National Disaster Response Force. It said, “The relief material sent by the Government of India, consisting of shelter and hygiene kits, will provide immediate assistance to the cyclone-affected communities.” The statement also said that this reflected India’s long-standing commitment to providing “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Friendly Foreign Countries as a first responder.” India had also provided Fiji with support during the Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is a crucial party of India’s “Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative” that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched in 2019. The recent delivery of relief material to Fiji comes in pursuance of this larger aim of the Indian government.
Indian Diplomacy: Weekly Round-Up (1-7 January, 2021)
This week, Indian authorities convened several meetings with officials from Ghana, Germany, Japan, and more.
January 8, 2021
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Angel Merkel during the 2019 G-20 Summit in Japan. SOURCE: ECONOMIC TIMES