AMN / WEB DESK
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will be on a six day visit to Australia and Philippines from tomorrow. In a statement External Affairs Ministry said, Dr. Jaishankar is paying an official visit to Australia at the invitation of his Australian counterpart Marise Payne.
This will be his first visit as External Affairs Minister to Australia. It will be also the first high-level visit to Australia from India after the opening of its borders which were closed following the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic.
Dr. Jaishankar will participate in the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Friday in Melbourne, along with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States.
The Ministers will review ongoing Quad cooperation and build on the positive and constructive agenda announced by the Leaders at the two Summits in 2021, to address contemporary challenges. Dr. Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister will co-chair the 12th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue on Saturday.
The Ministry said, Dr. Jaishankar will be on a bilateral visit to the Philippines from 13 to 15 February. This will be his first visit to the Philippines as External Affairs Minister as well. He will hold talks with his counterpart, Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.