India dubs ASEAN meet 'very productive'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar departed for home after attending a productive ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, an annual event that takes stock of the ASEAN-India partnership.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Departing Cambodia after a brief, but very productive visit." Jaishankar arrived in Cambodia on August 3 to attend the ASEAN ministerial meeting.

On August 4 Jaishankar held a conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and assured the continued assistance on heritage conservation.

"Thank PM Hun Sen of Cambodia for receiving me. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated his warm words on our covid cooperation. Discussed enhancing our economic, development, defence and cultural partnership. Assured our continued assistance on heritage conservation. Valued his views on regional developments," Jaishankar tweeted.

Jaishankar has held several bilateral meetings on the margins of the ASEAN event. He held his first meeting with newly-appointed Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and reaffirmed India's commitment as a dependable friend and reliable partner to the economic recovery of the island nation.

In his meeting with Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Jaishankar held a discussion on issues like Indo-Pacific, Covid-19, and Myanmar. He also promised to maintain the momentum of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his meeting with foreign minister Bui Thanh Son.

Before meeting with Singapore FM, Jaishankar also held talks with Australia's Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. With Blinken, the external affairs minister discussed the India-US relationship and the global situation.

(ANI)