External Affairs Minister’s visit to the UK

Press Release

External Affairs Minister’s visit to the UK for the 19th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, 2019

External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr S. Jaishankar, visited London, United Kingdom on 9-11 July 2019 to participate in the 19th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) hosted by the UK in its capacity as Chair-in-Office and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from UK and some other Commonwealth member countries.

The CFAMM undertook a review of implementation of the mandates of CHOGM 2018 and held discussions on the CHOGM 2020 to be held at Kigali in June next year. During the CFAMM, Foreign Ministers adopted the 70th anniversary Affirmation. Agreed recommendations submitted by the Board of Governance after assiduously deliberating on two High-Level Group reports prepared in accordance with mandate given by the Heads at CHOGM 2015 were considered. The participation of India at Ministerial level is a reaffirmation of the importance that India attaches to the Commonwealth.

EAM, in his remarks, congratulated the member countries on the 70th anniversary of Commonwealth. He also noted that India is well on the path of fulfilling all the commitments made by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, at CHOGM 2018 much before the next CHOGM in 2020. EAM called for fast-tracking of the process of re-admission of Maldives to the Commonwealth.

EAM also had bilateral discussions with his UK counterpart, Foreign Secretary, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt. The two ministers agreed to bring the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations into sharper focus. EAM thanked his UK counterpart for British Government’s support to Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi’s initiative to build a global Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

EAM also held separate bilateral talks with Foreign Affairs Ministers of Australia and Canada, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on the margins of CFAMM and covered a wide range of bilateral issues. During the visit, Dr. Jaishankar also interacted with a large number of MPs, Lords and key representatives of think tanks and media to exchange views on a range of issues to find ways and means to further cement the multifaceted India – UK ties.

11 July 2019