Apr 11: The second edition of India – Belgium Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) was held on 10 April 2024 in New Delhi, co-chaired by Shri Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs and Ms. Theodora Gentzis, President of the Board, Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs.
This meeting follows the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. Mr. Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, held on March 26, 2024, and the meeting between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Belgian counterpart, Ms. Hadja Lahbib on the sidelines of Munich conference in February 2024.
During the meeting, both sides comprehensively reviewed the multifaceted relations between India and Belgium. The discussions encompassed key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and economic cooperation, semiconductors, cyber and digital, Science and Tech, UNSC reforms, and multilateral cooperation and institutional dialogue mechanisms. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance India-EU Strategic ties during the ongoing tenure of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and to make progress towards a comprehensive, balanced, fair, and mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In addition, the dialogue extended to global and regional affairs, green energy transition including green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and port cooperation, and exchange on key global challenges.
Both sides underlined initiatives fostering people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties.In this context, they agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
These consultations were preceded by the 18th meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of India and BLEU (Belgium Luxembourg Economic Union), held on April 9, 2024, co-chaired by the President of the Board, Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign and Commercial Affairs, and Commerce Secretary, GoI. Ms. Gentzis also paid a courtesy call on the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar during the visit.
India-Belgium FoC provided further momentum to the bilateral relationship and an opportunity to review actions and priorities across multidimensional ties between the two countries.
Both sides agreed to hold the next round of FoC with Belgium at a mutually convenient date, next year.
Disclaimer: We donot claim that the images used as part of the news published are always owned by us. From time to time, we use images sourced as part of news or any related images or representations. Kindly take a look at our image usage policy on how we select the image that are used as part of the news.
