Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 30

Sushma Swaraj explained
the foreign policy emphases
of the Narendra Modi
government and future
directions in the year 2019.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Erna Solberg,
Prime Minister of Norway
Calling for reform of United Nations, PM Solberg said,
"Multilateralism is not just about trade and economy but also
making international organisations function. For example,
through the reform of the UN. UN needs to reform. they
need to be representative as it looks today and not the way
the world was seen in the 1940s."
The blue economy and sustainable use of the oceans
formed a big part of the Norway-India talks and agreements.
A joint statement between the two sides stressed “importance
of sustainable use of the oceans, including for food security,
energy sources, mineral exploitation, and climate-friendly
maritime transport. They welcomed the signing of the MoU
on India-Norway Ocean Dialogue and the establishment of
the Joint Task Force on Blue Economy under the aegis of
the MoU, in order to promote multi-sectoral cooperation in
various aspects of Blue Economy.”
Indo-pacifi c region was another strongly discussed subject
during the Raisina Dialogue during which Indian Chief of
Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba along with top armed forces
commanders from US, Japan, Australia etc. participated. The
conference was also addressed by Indian Foreign Secretary
Vijay Gokhale, who articulated India’s foreign policy
challenges in the neighbourhood and beyond.
30 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida