New Delhi: India and Estonia held their 12th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on Wednesday, during which they discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Ukraine conflict, India’s Presidency of G20 and UNSC reforms.

The Indian side was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Estonian side was led by Kyllike Sillaste-Elling, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

India and Estonia, a country in Northern Europe bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, share a warm and cordial bilateral relationship, and have regular exchanges at both political and official levels.

Trade between India and Estonia has increased in recent years, despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, said an official statement.

The FOC provided an opportunity for reviewing bilateral engagements and for exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including developments in our respective neighbourhoods, EU, Ukraine conflict, India’s Presidency of G20, cooperation in multilateral fora, and UNSC reforms.

Both sides also discussed furthering relations in sectors such as trade and investments, Cyber and Digital Cooperation and cultural linkages.

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at mutually convenient dates in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, it added.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: “12th India-Estonia FOC held in New Delhi, led by Secy (West) @SanjayVermalFS & @KyllikeSillaste, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, MoFA." Estonia.

“Discussions covered bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, including UNSC reforms, Ukraine conflict and India’s G20 Presidency.”

According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the meeting concentrated on political and economic relations between the countries, major foreign policy issues and regional developments.

“Estonia and India are united by successful cyber and digital cooperation, and we are interested in closer business and research cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. The Indian Embassy opened in Tallinn in late 2021 has greatly contributed to our closer cooperation,” Undersecretary Kyllike Sillaste-Elling said. They also spoke about cooperation opportunities in managing and fighting climate change.

"Speaking about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Undersecretary Sillaste-Elling underlined the continued need to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Peace can only come on the terms and at the time that Ukraine prefers,” the undersecretary said, “expressing hope that India would play an important part in supporting Ukraine during its G20 presidency this year”, the statement said.

During her visit, Undersecretary Sillaste-Elling also met with the head of the European Union mission to India, EU ambassadors, and Indian academics and representatives of think tanks, it said.

(With UNNI inputs)