External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar concluded a two-day visit to Switzerland, engaging with top dignitaries and discussing India’s approach to multilateralism, human rights, and the promotion of traditional medicine systems on a global scale.
During his visit, Jaishankar met with key leaders of international organizations in Geneva, including United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He shared India’s perspectives on multilateralism, the evolution of human rights, and strategies to enhance global human rights frameworks. Jaishankar also explored avenues for strengthening cooperation in public health and advancing traditional medicine systems worldwide.
The External Affairs Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, which will serve as the hub for India’s missions dealing with the UN, Conference on Disarmament, World Trade Organization, and the Consulate General of India.
The mission also features a statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar and a hall dedicated to Hansa Mehta, a key figure in promoting gender equality during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Additionally, Jaishankar participated in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative by planting a tree at the mission.
Jaishankar addressed a large gathering of the Indian community and Friends of India at the Permanent Mission, highlighting India’s recent advancements and its vision for global engagement. He also delivered a talk on ‘Global Tectonics: The Indian View of a World in Churn’ at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), attended by members of the diplomatic community, academia, think tanks, students, and the Indian diaspora.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Daniele Giovanni Cassis hosted Jaishankar in Geneva, where the two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral relations, focusing on the Free Trade Agreement between India and EFTA States (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) to boost trade and investment. They also addressed global and regional issues of mutual interest.