Question : Conference of Heads of Missions

(a) whether the Government has recently conducted a Conference of Heads of Missions in Delhi and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the total number of Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners who attended the said conference;

(c) the agenda discussed in the said meeting and the purpose and motive to conduct such conference;

(d) whether the conference comes at the time when India is monitoring several important global developments including sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia and Iran and China’s new assertiveness in Indo-Pacific region; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) Yes. The Annual Heads of Missions Conference was organized from June 30 – July 2, 2018. 115 Indian Heads of Missions attended the Conference.

(c) to (e) Heads of Missions Conferences offer an opportunity to discuss the government’s foreign policy priorities with Ambassadors and High Commissioners, to take stock of the situation on the ground, and to discuss the contours of our external engagement as well as mechanisms for more coordination with other arms of the Government, including State Governments. The discussions are wide-ranging and include issues such as bilateral relations, regional and global developments and issues involving major countries, potential opportunities, consular and Diaspora issues, emerging technologies and development issues, soft power diplomacy, multilateral and global issues, etc.
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