External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Portugal on 31 October – 1 November. He will also be visiting Italy on 2-3 November 2023.
During his visit to Portugal, the EAM will hold discussions with his counterpart Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho on entire range of bilateral relations, and on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. He is also expected to meet the Portuguese leadership, members of the Portugal-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Indo-Portuguese and Indian community in Portugal.
It is important to note that India and Portugal have growing and mutually beneficial relations in all spheres which have strengthened over time.
Soon after the Portugal visit, EAM Dr Jaishankar will leave for Italy on a bilateral visit from 2-3 November 2023. India and Italy enjoy friendly and cordial relations and multifaceted bilateral cooperation. The relationship was elevated to ‘Strategic Partnership’ during the state visit of Prime Minister of Italy in March this year.
During his visit, EAM Dr S Jaishankar will meet his counterpart Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Minister of Defence and Minister for ‘Made in Italy’. He is also expected to meet the top leadership of the country.
Furthermore, he will be addressing the Joint Session of the Senate’s External Affairs and Defence Commission, and EU Affairs Commission and India-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, and meet the members of Indian community.
Meanwhile prior to the visit, on October 30, EAM Dr S Jaishankar met with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar. The EAM stressed that Government attaches the highest importance to the case and fully shares the concern and pain of the families.
He also underlined that the Government will continue to make all efforts to secure their release and coordinate closely with the families in the regard.