Question:Recently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was on state visit to which European Union country?
(a) Finland
(b) France
(c) Sweden
(d) Germany
Answer:(a)
Related facts:
- Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM) was on an official visit to Finland from 19-21 September, 2019.
- He was received by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
- S Jaishankar held talks with Prime Minister Antti Rinne and his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto on a broad spectrum of bilateral relations.
- During his state visit, Minister Jaishankar and his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Helsinki as a part of commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
- He also met the Indian Community there and underlined the Mahatma’s message of truth,courage and hope.
- External Affairs Minister held the long discussions on cross-border terrorism emphasizing Pakistan as the “epicentre of global terrorism”amidst Pakistan’s bid to internationalise the Kashmir issue after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.Finland has supported India on the Kashmir issue.
- The three-day visit discussed countries’ bilateral relations with special focus on green technologies.
- Jaishankar also visited the Parliament of Finland and held talks with first deputy speaker Tuula Haatainen.
- Finland, new President of European Union Council,is a Northern European nation bordering Norway, Russia and Sweden by land and Estonia by sea.
- India’s trade in goods with Finland crossed $ One billion and is in Finland’s favour. Finland is India’s 60th largest trade partner globally, and the 10th largest within the EU.
Links:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/jaishankar-holds-talks-on-terrorism-regional-issues-with-top-finnish-leadership/article29475681.ece
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/europe/jaishankar-unveils-mahatma-gandhi-statue-in-finland20190920223050/
https://finlandabroad.fi/web/un/foreign-ministry-s-press-releases/-/asset_publisher/kyaK4Ry9kbQ0/content/intian-ulkoministeri-jaishankar-suomeen/35732
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland%E2%80%93India_relations