Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit to India, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations. The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed her arrival, highlighting the aim to strengthen ties between India and Ecuador. Sommerfeld, who also serves as Ecuador’s Minister of Human Mobility, is set to engage in discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during her visit.
Sommerfeld’s itinerary includes visits to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi, as well as meetings with India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. Previously, Margherita visited Ecuador, engaging in discussions with President Daniel Noboa Azin to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
During Margherita’s visit to Ecuador, discussions were held with Ecuadorian officials to deepen cooperation in various sectors like agriculture, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, culture, tourism, and healthcare. A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the diplomatic training institutions of India and Ecuador was signed during a meeting between Margherita and Sommerfeld. Additionally, they jointly inaugurated the resident Embassy of India in Quito, emphasizing India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ecuador.
In December, Margherita met with Ecuador’s Ambassador to India, Fernando Bucheli Vargas, to explore opportunities for further collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Diplomatic ties between India and Ecuador were established in 1969, with both countries signing a Memorandum of Understanding for Foreign Office Consultations in 2000. Subsequently, several rounds of consultations have taken place between the two nations over the years.
