Dominican Republic Vice President’s Visit Strengthens Bilateral Ties with India

Introduction: The official visit of Dominican Republic Vice President, Raquel Pena Rodriguez, to India has significantly strengthened the bilateral relationship between the two nations, as they recently celebrated 25 years of diplomatic ties. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the importance of this visit in a statement, noting the historic nature of the Vice President’s first-ever visit to India.

Key Points:

• Dominican Republic Vice President Raquel Pena Rodriguez visited India from October 3 to October 5, 2023, at the invitation of Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. This visit holds particular significance as it marks the first-ever visit of the Vice President of the Dominican Republic to India.
• During her stay in India, Vice President Rodriguez engaged in a series of meetings and interactions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. On October 3, she called on President Droupadi Murmu and met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the New Parliament House.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with Vice President Rodriguez during her visit to Delhi. She also paid her respects at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, by offering floral tributes.
• On October 4, Vice President Rodriguez had a comprehensive meeting with her Indian counterpart, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including political, defence, economic, cultural, educational, and developmental cooperation. The leaders also addressed collaboration in multilateral forums and international issues of mutual interest, leading to the issuance of a Joint Press Release.
• As part of her visit, Vice President Rodriguez delivered the 45th Sapru House Lecture on ‘The Dominican Republic and India: Natural Partners’ at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). She also visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where she witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT-Delhi and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Dominican Republic. Her visit was extended to Agra on October 5.
• The Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged that Vice President Rodriguez’s visit has provided a substantial boost to the growing ties between India and the Dominican Republic. It underscores the commitment of both nations to further enhance bilateral relations as they approach the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024.

Conclusion: The visit of Dominican Republic Vice President Raquel Pena Rodriguez to India has not only deepened bilateral ties but also marked a historic milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. The various meetings, discussions, and agreements during the visit have set the stage for continued cooperation and collaboration in multiple areas, strengthening the bonds of friendship between India and the Dominican Republic.

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