India-Sweden Virtual Summit

In News: Recently, India and Sweden have discussed bilateral issues and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest at Virtual Summit.

• This was the fifth interaction between the two countries since 2015. The PM of India had visited Stockholm in April 2018 for the first India-Nordic Summit.

Key Highlights of the Summit

• The Prime Minister of India expressed solidarity with the people of Sweden in the wake of the violent attack on 3rd March .
• Both the leaders underlined that the longstanding close relations between India and Sweden were based on shared values of democracy, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights.
• They reaffirmed their strong commitment to work for multilateralism, rules-based international order, counter-terrorism and peace and security.
• They also acknowledged the growing salience of India’s partnership with the European Union and EU countries.
• The two leaders reviewed the extensive ongoing engagement between India and Sweden and expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the Joint Action Plan and Joint Innovation Partnership agreed during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sweden in 2018.
• The Prime Minister welcomed Sweden’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• The leaders also noted the growing membership of the India-Sweden joint initiative – the Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT).
• The two leaders also discussed the Covid-19 situation including the vaccination drive and stressed the need for vaccine equity by providing urgent and affordable access to vaccines across all nations.

Indian -Sweden Relations

• Diplomatic
  • Diplomatic ties between India and Sweden were established in 1949.
  • The two countries enjoy a cordial relationship and excellent cooperation in regional and international fora.
  • Sweden supports India’s membership in the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
    • Sweden also supported India in its membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and has extended full support in India’s bid for its pending membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

• Political Relations
  • High level contact between the two countries goes back to 1957 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Sweden.
  • Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Sweden to attend the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972.
  • The first-ever State Visit by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, was in 2015.

• Cultural and Educational Relations
  • Indian music, dance, art, literature, films and cuisine are widely appreciated in Sweden.
  • In the absence of a Cultural Exchange Agreement between the two countries, cultural ties are promoted mainly by local associations and by the Embassy with the support of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

• Trade and Economic

• • India is Sweden’s 19th largest export market and third-largest trade partner after China and Japan in Asia.
  • The main Swedish exports to India are communication equipment, motor vehicles, paper & pulp products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering products.
  • The main items of Indian exports are garments, textiles, chemical products, food products, and semi-manufactured and manufactured goods.

Source :AIR