BELGRADE
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, leading the Indian delegation at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Belgrade, leveraged the multilateral platform to conduct an intensive series of high-level bilateral engagements. The summit, convened under the theme “The Legacy of Non-Alignment: Lessons for Today’s World”, brought together leaders from across the globe to reflect on historical principles of sovereignty, peaceful coexistence, and strategic autonomy, while allowing New Delhi to reinforce its diplomatic footprint across diverse geopolitical regions.
A cornerstone of Rijiju’s diplomatic outreach involved deepening ties with West Asian leadership. He held comprehensive discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed A. M. Elkhereiji. The dialogue focused on steering the multifaceted India-Saudi Arabia partnership toward expanded domains of strategic convergence, economic interdependence, and regional stability, building upon mutual high-level visits and shared developmental aspirations.
In his engagements with host-nation dignitaries of the Republic of Serbia, Rijiju emphasized the enduring civilizational and contemporary bonds uniting New Delhi and Belgrade. Following an audience with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić—wherein both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral trust rooted in mutual respect—Rijiju conferred with the President (Speaker) of the Serbian National Assembly, Ana Brnabić. Their talks spotlighted the pivotal role of parliamentary diplomacy, legislative exchanges, and people-to-people connectivity in bridging geographic distances and fostering profound societal understanding. Additionally, Rijiju met with Serbia’s Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade, Jagoda Lazarevic, to map out actionable frameworks for scaling up bilateral trade volumes, encouraging cross-border investments, and unlocking new avenues for mutual economic growth.
Expanding India’s outreach to the African continent, Rijiju sat down with Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete Antonio. The conversation explored robust pathways to diversify bilateral cooperation, particularly focusing on energy security, trade facilitation, and South-South developmental solidarity, ensuring that the historic framework of non-alignment continues to deliver tangible economic dividends for developing nations in an increasingly multipolar and complex global order.