Port Louis, April 10 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Mauritian President Dharambeer Gokhool on Friday and conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Our conversation reflected the warmth of our friendship and the steadfast commitment to further advancing the India-Mauritius partnership," he said in a post on X after meeting President Gokhool.
Jaishankar, who is in Mauritius to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, also met Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the former prime minister and leader of the MSM Party. "I valued his strong commitment to the India-Mauritius partnership," he said.
The minister also met his counterparts from Nepal, Bhutan, and Seychelles and discussed issues of mutual interest.
"I was glad to meet Nepalese FM Shishir Khanal @shisir this afternoon. I congratulated him on his appointment. We discussed realizing the full potential of the India-Nepal partnership through deeper collaboration in different sectors," he posted on X.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, the two leaders reviewed the longstanding, multifaceted Nepal-India relationship.
"Both sides had constructive and forward-looking discussions on matters of mutual interest, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations," it said.
This was the first meeting between the two leaders.
Jaishankar, who held a "warm conversation" with Bhutan's Foreign Minister D N Dhungyel in Port Louis, said, "Our unique and time-tested partnership continues to progress and prosper."
The minister also met Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure on the sidelines of the conference. "India is committed to supporting Seychelles in meeting current economic challenges. I welcomed the steps in implementing the Special Economic Package," Jaishankar said.
A day earlier, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to Mauritius's development by witnessing a Special Economic Package Level of Effort (LoE), inaugurating 11 community projects, and launching the iGOT Karmayogi portal.
Key agreements also covered higher education and hydrography cooperation.
Jaishankar announced on Thursday that India would soon position a Defence Attache in Mauritius. "This will surely strengthen our growing engagements," he added.
From Mauritius, Jaishankar will travel to the United Arab Emirates this weekend.
