India, European Union review bilateral relations in Brussels(Re-issue with corrections)

BRUSSELS - India and European Union reviewed the progress of their relations here on Monday, as Vice President Hamid Ansari, presently on a two-day visit to Belgium for Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), held three bilateral meetings today.

During their talks, the Indian Vice President Ansari and the European Council President Herman von Rompuy, reviewed the status of India and European Union relations and described the relations as “strategically very important.”

They also discussed about India-EU summit going to be held in December in Brussels.

During the bilateral with Finland and Latvia, the issues of investment, technology transfer in Green Energy, educational relations, scope of investment in India, climate change, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and United Nations reforms were discussed.

Finland Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi during his meet with Ansari, welcomed Indian investments in clean energy, ICT, forests and education sectors.

Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (East), Vijay Latha Reddy, after the bilateral meet, informed reporters about the agenda of ASEM ahead of its commencement.

Reddy said that there is need for more effective global financial economy governance and sustainable development to promote non-distorting market policy, environmental protection, climate change and bio-diversity, fight against terrorism and organized crime, elimination of piracy at sea, proliferations of weapon of mass destruction. By Mritunjay Kumar Singh (ANI)