Sushma Swaraj meets Bhutanese PM, Tunisian FM on sidelines of UN General Assembly

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday held talks with Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and her Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui, kicking off a series of bilateral meetings to further the country’s foreign policy goals.

“Starting the business of bilateral with an African friend. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets the Tunisian FM Khemaies Jhinaoui,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted after Swaraj held her first bilateral meeting with Jhinaoui on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Kumar in another tweet after Swaraj’s meeting with the Bhutanese prime minister, said, “Strengthening traditionally unique bilateral relations. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets with Bhutanese PM @tsheringtobgay in New York.”

The Bhutanese prime minister said they discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

“Such a pleasure meeting H.E @SushmaSwaraj ji, External Affairs Minister of India. We discussed the wide range of bilateral cooperation,” Tobgay tweeted.

The meeting, Swaraj’s first with India’s neighbouring country, gains significance in view of the recent Doklam standoff with China.

India and China last month ended a 73-day standoff in Doklam area of the Sikkim sector that was triggered by China’s move to build a road in the border area.

During her week-long stay here, Swaraj, leading a high-powered Indian delegation, is expected to hold about 20 bilateral and trilateral meetings with leaders attending the session.