The second edition of India-Belgium Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) took place on April 10 in the national capital, with a focus on trade, green hydrogen and others, as both sides conducted a comprehensive review of the multifaceted relations between the two countries.
Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Theodora Gentzis, President of the Board at the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the meeting.
“The discussions encompassed key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and economic cooperation, semiconductors, cyber and digital, Science and Tech, UNSC reforms and multilateral cooperation and institutional dialogue mechanisms,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release.
The meeting was preceded by a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo on March 26, as well as a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib on the sidelines of the Munich conference in February 2024.
Both parties reiterated their commitment to strengthening India-EU strategic ties during Belgium’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to advancing towards a comprehensive, balanced, fair, and mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The release also highlighted discussions on global and regional affairs, the transition to green energy including green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals, port cooperation, and exchange on key global challenges.
Additionally, initiatives to promote people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties were emphasized, with an agreement to expedite the conclusion of a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
The consultations followed the 18th meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of India and the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) on April 9, co-chaired by the President of the Board at the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign and Commercial Affairs and the Commerce Secretary of the Government of India.
During the visit, Gentzis also paid a courtesy call on External Affairs Minister Jaishankar.
The release concluded by stating that the India-Belgium FoC has further energized the bilateral relationship, providing an opportunity to review actions and priorities across the multidimensional ties between the two countries. Both sides agreed to schedule the next round of FoC with Belgium at a mutually convenient date next year.
