Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar visited Austria and Slovak Republic and discussed with the leaders of those countries major global and regional issues as well as ways to strengthen ties, the ministry said today.
The minister visited Austria and Slovak Republic from May 15-17, 2018, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
He visited Austria on Tuesday and held a meeting with its Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl.
They discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, ways to strengthen them further, and major global and regional issues of common concern, the MEA said.
Akbar also had a meeting with Lt. General Christian Segur-Cabanac, President of STRATEG (Society for Political and Strategic Studies), a leading Austrian think tank.
There have been regular high-level exchanges between the India and Austria. Austrian Foreign Minister had visited India in February 2016.
India-Austria annual bilateral trade has reached USD 1.4 billion and witnessed rapid growth in recent years.
From Austria, Akbar left for Slovak Republic for a two-day visit from May 16-17.
He participated in the GLOBSEC 2018 Bratislava Forum at the invitation of Slovak Republic's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak.
Akbar's visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of independent Slovak Republic and marked the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Slovak Republic.
During the visit, Akbar met Deputy Prime Minister of Investment and Informatisation Richard Rasi, Foreign Minister Lajcak, Defence Minister Peter Gajdos, and Slovak Republic's State Secretary of Foreign and European Affairs Lukas Parizek.
The leaders discussed various aspects of India-Slovakia relations and committed to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas, the MEA said.
The leaders also shared views on major global and regional issues of mutual interest, it said.
At the GLOBSEC 2018 Bratislava Forum, Akbar participated at a panel discussion titled 'Global Economy: How Fair & Free Can Trade Just Be?', with co-panelists Malta's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela and others.
He also visited the 7th International Defence Exhibition Bratislava (IDEB) 2018, an important exhibition of defence and security technologies in Central Europe, and met Indian business visitors from the defence sector, the MEA said.
There have been regular exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries. Lajcak visited India in August 2017, while Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh visited Slovakia and participated in the GLOBSEC 2016 Bratislava Forum in April 2016.
Indian investment in Slovakia has increased lately and a new dimension in economic cooperation has been created by significant Indian investment in automobile manufacturing in Slovakia, the MEA said.
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