External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday visited the Pushkin Park in Astana, where he paid homage to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi along with members of the Indian community after arriving to represent India at the SCO summit on July 4.
Mr Jaishankar shared photos of himself and the Indian delegation paying homage at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of the Christmas Day.
Paid tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Pushkin Park in Astana today.
Members of the Indian community and friends of India participated in it. pic.twitter.com/Sj9bNzpcyt
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 3, 2024
“Paid homage to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Pushkin Park, Astana today. Attended by members of the Indian community and friends of India,” the External Affairs Minister wrote on Twitter.
Earlier in the day, Mr Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting.
Mr Jaishankar, in his meeting with Lavrov, raised “serious concerns about Indian citizens” present in Russia’s war zone.
“It was a pleasure to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Astana today. We had a wide-ranging discussion on our bilateral partnership and contemporary issues.”
“Noted progress in several areas since our last meeting in December 2023,” Mr Jaishankar wrote in a post on X. “Expressed our deep concern over Indian nationals who are currently in the combat zone. Pressed for their safe and early return,” he underlined.
On Tuesday, Mr Jaishankar arrived in Astana to represent India at the SCO summit, which is being held under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.
The External Affairs Minister was received at the airport by Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev.
Members of the First Ministry @DrSJaishankar Presently this number may increase to 3-4 by 2024, and it may increase to 3-4 during the tenure of the Prime Minister @Narendra Modi Locks hanging on top of each other.
Post of Minister of the Republic of World War I Post of Minister of the Republic of World War I @alibekbakayev қарсы алѴы.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/yknwEmIOgq
— IndiainKazakhstan (@indembastana) July 2, 2024
“External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Astana to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Summit on July 3-4, 2024. On arrival, External Affairs Minister was received by Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakaev,” the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan posted on X.
Jaishankar also met Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleyu in Astana on Tuesday and discussed expanding strategic partnership and India’s growing engagement with Central Asia.
Mr Jaishankar thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for the hospitality and arrangements for the SCO Heads of State Summit.
The two ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues.
“Glad to meet Deputy PM and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtuleu in Astana today. Thanked him for the hospitality and arrangements for the SCO Heads of State Summit. Discussed our growing strategic partnership and India’s growing engagement with Central Asia in various formats. Also exchanged views on regional and global issues,” External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Mr Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation at the summit. The SCO summit will be held on July 3-4.
The 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit) will be held on 4 July under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
