Extrenal Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday as first day of her US stay met with Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Along with that, Minister also participated in the trilateral meeting with Japan and US.
Swaraj announced that India would like work with Japan and US for its early membership of Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation. The three countries have agreed to work together to maintain maritime security through greater collaboration.
India and US have welcomed Japan to participate in the 2015 Malabar exercise. The three sides have agreed to convene an expert’s level group on humanitarian assistance and disasters relief to enhance the ability to respond jointly to complex disaster.
Swaraj also met UK’s secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond, where they both discussed about the Prime Minister’s next UK visit.
India will be the chair for the 2016 Brics going to held in the month of January. "The ministers discussed what are the emergent needs and see how far things have progressed since they last summit meeting in Russia. For us it is very significant as India is going to be the next chair of Brics commencing February 2016. So it is important meeting the point of view for the external minister to hear the views of other foreign minister on how they see Brics evolving, what are the emergent needs and what more needs to be done," said spokesperson to the ministry Vikas Swarup.
"There was some discussion on UK's participation in our smart cities program and on Indian investments in the UK and UK investments in India," added swarup.
