This Article is From Sep 08, 2014

India's Relationship with China is One of Cooperation and Competition, Says Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj: Highlights

India's Relationship with China is One of Cooperation and Competition, Says Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj: Highlights

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj addressing the press conference in New Delhi

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj presented the three-month report card of her ministry on Monday in a press conference.

She spoke about India's diplomatic channels with SAARC nations as well as outside the sub-continent over the past three months.

Here are the highlights from the press conference:

  • Diplomacytells you how to have better relations with neighbours.

  • This is the first ministry to start working after the swearing-in ceremony.
  • PM had invited all heads of SAARC states to the swearing-in. So our diplomacy started immediately after the swearing-in... the next day we had bilaterals with 8 heads of state.
  •  'Look East' is an important policy of ours.  I visited Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam.  PM went to Japan.
  • We will open passport seva kendras in all north-eastern states by next year and organize passport camps in districts.
  • During BRICS we met leaders of 11 Latin American countries.
  • Within 3 months a lot of work has been done.
  • I am happy to inform you that there is no shortage of passport booklets today  - when I took over 5.37 lakh booklets were short.
  • I'll be going to Afghanistan in the next few days.
  • On September 30, PM Modi will meet President Obama.
  • The ministry has been proactive and sent out strong messages.
  • We told China: We believe in one China policy, You should believe in one India policy.
  • India's relationship with China is one of cooperation and competition.
  • 1000 students were evacuated from Ukraine, 6593 citizens were evacuated from Iraq, 3183 from Libya - this shows the sensitive face of the government.
  • Website for families of any Indian who has unfortunately died abroad -- will help in tracking the bodies being brought back home.

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