EAM Jaishankar holds several bilateral meetings on sidelines of UN General Assembly

New York, Sep 22 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held a range of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam and Lithuania, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
With Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the discussions focused on taking forward the bilateral cooperation and also on Afghanistan. The two top diplomats also exchanged views on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue, he said.
“Good to meet FM Sameh Shoukry of Egypt. Agreed to take forward our bilateral cooperation. Exchanged views on the GERD issue and Afghanistan,” the EAM posted.
In July this year, Ethiopia announced that it had completed the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The GERD is Ethiopia’s flagship infrastructure project which would be the largest power generator in the African continent. However, this has been rejected by the downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, which insist on a binding agreement with Ethiopia before it completed filling of the dam. Last week, the UN Security Council encouraged all three countries – Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – to resume negotiations with the aim of reaching a legal binding agreement on the issue.
The EAM also held a “good meeting” with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi.
“A good meeting with a key ASEAN partner. Discussed regional developments with FM
@Menlu_RI of Indonesia. Shared interests and common perspectives drive our strong cooperation,” he posted.
He also held a productive meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.
A productive meeting with @FMBuiThanhSon of Vietnam.
“Discussed our multidimensional bilateral cooperation.
“Exchanged views on regional and common interest,” he tweeted.
He also held talks with his counterpart from Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, and both agreed to expand bilateral contacts.
Happy to meet FM @GLandsbergis of Lithuania.
“Agreed to expand our bilateral contacts. Exchanged views on our respective regions,” the EAM tweeted.