New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishanakar on Tuesday motivated the youth towards the subject of foreign affairs and spoke obout how it impacts them for an India that is getting future-ready for the world. "I would like you to understand what I do. A Foreign Minister has two big tasks. First, to introduce India to the world. Also, to impart greater understanding about the country in the world and to make them understand what is happening in new India," said Jaishanakar in Hindi, according to the news agency ANI report.
In his public address during an event on Indian Foreign Policy in Modi Era in Ahmedabad, Jaishankar said a lot has changed in the last eight years under the tenure of the Modi government.
India’s vision on terrorism & border issues
The EAM noted that India has become more confident while dealing with terrorism and bordr related issues after the Modi-led BJP government came to power at the Centre.
"We all know that India has always been a victim of terrorism. But, now our vision regarding it has changed. You can compare it with what happened in Mumbai in 2008 and in Uri and Pulwama. You can see how confident our government has been in its policies," he said at the vent, as reported by ANI.
On the 2015 India-Bangladesh land border agreement, he said "In 2015, India signed a land agreement with Bangladesh, which resolved the border issues with the country for the first time. It helped in bringing peace to the North East. Earlier, the terrorists were easily able to cross the border, but now the agreement has brought a stop to it."
Three Main Layers Of Foreign Policy
Speaking further, Jaishankar emphasied that he would like people to know what a foreign minister does and how foreign policies impact everyone today.
"There are three main layers of our foreign policy. Firstly, it is security-centric. Secondly, it is development-centric. Thirdly, it is people-centric. Today, we have a vision for 10 weeks, 10 months and even for 10 years, so that we can focus on both short-term and long-term vision," he said.
Referring to the world events such as the Ukraine conflict, the minister said, "Today, all the walls we created regarding the world stand broken. Anything that happens anywhere in the world, its effects are felt everywhere. The war in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic show what impact the world has on us. It has taught us not to be dependent on any particular country. We have to enhance the global workplace and global marketplace."
The EAM also spoke on the development India has made in the manufacturing sector and highlighted how in the last 20-30 years when manufacturing was growing rapidly in other countries, India lagged behind but today even iPhones are being manufactured in India.
On the changing status of the US and China, Jaishankar said "Two most important incidents in the changing world are 'Rising China' and the 'Changing US'. Firstly, the way China has risen economically, politically and militarily. The other is the way the US has changed regarding its relations and partnerships."