Both sides reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and discussed a variety of topics

India and Ethiopia reviewed their bilateral relations and discussed future initiatives at the 4th Round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) which took place in Addis Ababa on Monday.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both delegations reviewed the full range of bilateral relations during the Foreign Office Consultations.

They discussed a variety of topics, including political engagements; trade & economic matters, development partnership projects, cultural and consular matters, cooperation in higher education, people-to-people contacts, etc.

It was also agreed to work to expand engagement in fields such as defence, Science and Technology, education, agriculture and allied sectors and civil aviation. Views on regional and global issues of mutual interest as well as AU related matters were also exchanged.

Both sides agreed to continue high level political exchanges and regular meetings of the joint institutional mechanisms to keep the relationship vibrant and mutually beneficial, the MEA added.

The two sides agreed to call meetings of institutional bodies like the Joint Science and Technology Committee (JSTC), Joint Trade Committee (JTC), etc. as soon as possible and to work toward holding the next Ministerial level Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation at times that would be convenient for both parties.

Puneet R Kundal, Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa), Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Ambassador Gebeyehu Ganga Gayito (Ph.D.), Director General for the Middle East, Asia & Pacific Nations Affairs, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the meeting.

The MEA said that both parties agreed to convene the next round of consultations in New Delhi on mutually agreeable dates.