New Delhi: India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel on their National Day and stated his wish to improve bilateral connections between the two countries.
On X, he issued a statement congratulating FM @PauloRangel_pt, the Portuguese government, and the people on their National Day. Will continue efforts to improve our bilateral cooperation and EU ties.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday, Jaishankar is now on an official trip to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Kaja Kallas conducted the first EU-India Strategic Dialogue with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during which he reaffirmed India's desire to finalize an ambitious and balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union.
During a joint press conference with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, Jaishankar termed India and the EU as two key powers in that emerging reality and highlighted the strong rationale for closer ties.
He stated that it was wonderful to be back in Brussels to participate in the first strategic dialogue between India and the European Union, led by High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas. I believe we had a very open and fruitful meeting today, and it is still ongoing.
Jaishankar's trip to Brussels comes three months after Princess Astrid of Belgium led a 300-person business delegation to India. Princess Astrid's recent visit to India, where she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar, focused on important issues including labor migration, pharmaceuticals, defense, diamonds, space exploration, and green energy.
Interestingly, Jaishankar's visit coincided with the detention of absconding Indian diamantaire Mehul Choksi in a Belgian prison. Choksi, who is charged with defrauding Punjab National Bank of Rs 13,850 crore, was arrested in mid-April at India's extradition request. India has an extradition treaty with Belgium, and the government is expected to seek Choksi's extradition during the EAM's visit.
