The 9th India-Lithuania Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held today in New Delhi, marking another milestone in the strengthening of bilateral relations between India and Lithuania. The meeting was co-chaired by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Egidijus Meilūnas, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.
Pleased to co-chair the 9th Foreign Office Consultations with Lithuanian Vice Minister @MeilunasE. Discussed political, economic, cultural relations and regional and multilateral developments, including IMEC and the Indo-pacific@MEAIndia @LTEmbassyDelhi @IndEmbVilnius pic.twitter.com/pzLIgzdJez
— Sanjay Verma (@SanjayVermalFS) November 21, 2023
The discussions in this high-level meeting encompassed a wide range of topics, including bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues. Key areas of focus were political, economic, and consular matters, along with the strengthening of people-to-people contacts. The meeting also delved into significant international subjects such as United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, the ongoing Ukraine conflict, and India’s role in the G20.
Secretray (West) Sanjay Verma, speaking about the meeting, highlighted that discussion over the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Indo-Pacific region was also held. The IMEC is seen as a strategic initiative to bolster economic ties and connectivity between India, the Middle East, and Europe, potentially transforming the economic landscape of these regions.
Further, the visiting Lithuanian Vice Minister, Egidijus Meilūnas, shared his views on the consultations, emphasizing the productive nature of the bilateral talks. He expressed Lithuania’s commitment to enhancing its political, cultural, and economic collaboration with India, with a special focus on high technologies. He added, “The discussions also touched upon critical global security issues, with particular attention given to the Indo-Pacific region and support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict.”
It is pertinent to note that the FOC serve as a platform for both nations to align their perspectives on major global and regional issues.
