Discussions reaffirm significance of Joint Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation signed in 2022
The 2nd India-Andorra Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in the picturesque setting of Andorra la Vella on October 11, 2023 saw a thorough review of the bilateral ties with both sides discussing ways to strengthen the relationship in different spheres.
 
The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary (West), India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Sanjay Verma and Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor.
 
Secretary (West) Verma fondly recollected the historic visit of former Andorran Foreign Minister Maria Ubach Font to India last year. It marked a momentous occasion as the first-ever Foreign Minister-level visit between the two nations since diplomatic relations were formally established in 1994. The positive momentum generated by this visit has significantly propelled bilateral ties.
 
According to information shared by the MEA, during the comprehensive consultations, both sides engaged in an exhaustive review of all aspects of their bilateral relations. 

These included critical areas such as migration and mobility, finance, tourism, economic cooperation, consular matters, and the celebration of International Day of Yoga. The discussions reaffirmed the significance of the Joint Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation signed in 2022, serving as a robust framework for further nurturing the bilateral engagement.
 
Both sides stressed on the importance of multilateral diplomacy and exchanged views on cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN. They also discussed regional and global issues such as G20, BRICS, EU, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, the MEA said.
 
Additionally, regional and global issues, ranging from the G20 and BRICS to the European Union, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, featured prominently in the discussions. It underscores the commitment of both nations to actively engage in the global discourse.
 
In an update on X, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi aptly summarized the event: "2nd India-Andorra FOC led by Secy (West) @SanjayVermalFS & FM @ImmaTorFaus of Andorra held in Andorra la Vella today. Both sides reviewed bilateral and multilateral issues. They affirmed expanding areas of cooperation."
 
While the details of the expanding areas of cooperation are not explicitly outlined, one can envision the potential for collaborations in various sectors such as technology, trade, education, and culture. The stage is set for the two nations to forge ahead, leveraging each other's strengths for mutual benefit.