New Delhi- On Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed his warm wishes to the government and people of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the occasion of their Independence Day. In a Twitter message, he specifically greeted the Foreign Minister of Congo, Christophe Lutundula, emphasizing the close ties between India and Congo.
Jaishankar’s tweet read, “Warm wishes to FM Christophe Lutundula and the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the occasion of their Independence Day.”
India has been actively supporting Congo in capacity building initiatives, offering training to Congolese officials across various domains through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Additionally, India provides scholarships and fellowships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to further foster educational exchanges between the two nations.
In April of this year, India and Congo held their second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), during which they pledged to strengthen their cooperation in the multilateral sphere. The meeting, co-chaired by Sevala Naik Mude, Joint Secretary (C&WA), and Ambassador Gisele Bouanga-Kalou, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Congolese government, took place in New Delhi.
The FOC encompassed a comprehensive review of the bilateral relations between India and Congo, covering political aspects, trade and commerce, investments, defense and security, development partnership, capacity building, and cultural and people-to-people linkages. Both sides expressed their commitment to further enhancing the ties between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Ministry of External Affairs, in its press release, stated that the next round of consultations will be held in Brazzaville, the capital city of Congo, at a mutually convenient date.