New York, September 27 (Daily Kiran) : Indian officials actively participated in the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, engaging in significant discussions with representatives from Mexico, the World Food Program (WFP), and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The meetings addressed three critical issues: bilateral cooperation in technology and health, the growing pressures on global humanitarian efforts, and the needs of the Afghan people.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Mexico’s Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Alvarez during the 81st session of the UNGA. Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared insights via social media.
According to Mexican officials, the two ministers discussed ways to enhance collaboration in various sectors, including technology and health, which are already vital components of India-Mexico relations. Additionally, both nations work together in trade, the pharmaceutical industry, automotive sectors, science, and on multilateral platforms.
In a separate meeting, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, held discussions with WFP’s Acting Executive Director, Carl Skau.
The Ministry highlighted that they addressed the challenges faced by humanitarian agencies in a rapidly changing global landscape. The conversation focused on the increasing difficulties these organizations encounter due to simultaneous emergencies around the world, intensifying the pressure on their operations. This dialogue was also significant in the context of the longstanding partnership between India and the WFP.
Over time, the collaboration between India and the WFP has evolved from direct food assistance to include technical cooperation, improving food distribution systems, strengthening nutrition programs, and sharing India’s experiences with other nations.
The third major topic of India’s meetings was Afghanistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Rabab Fatima.
The Ministry emphasized that meeting the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people must remain a continuous priority. They acknowledged UNAMA’s role and assured ongoing support from India.
Details from the meeting focused on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the efforts of the UN mission there, without mentioning any formal diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government or changes to India’s current policy regarding Afghanistan.
Overall, these meetings illustrate India’s commitment to advancing discussions on bilateral and UN-level issues during the UNGA, with a focus on partnership, trade, health, and technology in its dialogue with Mexico, the challenges of global humanitarian assistance with the WFP, and the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people with UNAMA.
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