New Delhi, April 25: India’s premier foreign policy dialogue, the Raisina Dialogue, began on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the three-day conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, with the keynote address delivered by visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The seventh edition of the important flagship organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation is being held in in-person format this year, unlike in the past, when because of Covid it was conducted virtually. The event is being attended by 1,200 participants from 99 nations, including former Prime Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt; former Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper; former President of Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed; former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his vote of thanks, said the Raisina Dialogue has been the most successful of India’s many responses to PM Modi’s call of creating a ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ platform to debate contemporary issues. He said since it was launched in 2016, that “I can say this with all humility that the Raisina Dialogue is among the best in its class”. Referring to the European Commission President, he said that both she and PM Modi were the Co-Chairs of the 27+India-EU Summit at Porto in May 2021 that set new directions for the bilateral partnership, and her personal leadership was largely responsible for the impetus given to the initiatives designed to take the ties to the next level. “These include an FTA, an investment agreement and a geographical indications agreement. Earlier today, we announced the launching of the Trade and Technology Council as well. This coordination mechanism will facilitate our working together on expanded trade, on trusted technologies and on security. “The European Union has already articulated an Indo-Pacific and a Connectivity Strategy respectively that contributes to our convergence. Our Climate action, digital and other conversations are getting increasingly serious. And as we have heard, the EU is approaching global challenges with a much sharper strategic awareness. Indeed, these are the subjects of discussions at this very Dialogue,” he said. The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Terra Nova: Impassioned, Impatient, and Imperiled’. (UNI)
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