EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and leaders from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Laos and others and discussed various aspects of bilateral collaboration, including education and agriculture technology. Jaishankar is in the capital of the Laos People’s Democratic Republic to participate in the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting.

 

“Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of India Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met on the sidelines of #ASEAN events Vientiane, July 26, 2024 #RussiaIndia #DruzhbaDosti,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from South Korea and had a wide-ranging conversation on Special Strategic Partnership. ‘ASEAN cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy’: THE Association of South-East Asian Nations is the cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy and its Indo-Pacific vision, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, as he sought to expand political, economic and security cooperation with the 10-member influential regional bloc. Jaishankar is here in the Laotian capital to participate in the meetings of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In his remarks at the opening session of the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting, Jaishankar said the priority that India attaches to ASEAN and EAS (East Asia Summit) platforms is evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Jakarta last year on the very eve of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. He noted that Prime Minister Modi had announced a 12-point plan that has been largely acted upon.