External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, October 28, held formal talks with Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger in New Delhi, reviewing progress on the bilateral understandings reached during Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker's visit to India in April 2026, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar called the April visit by Chancellor Stocker 'very productive' and said both sides would assess the follow-through on commitments made then. Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, and other senior officials were also present, according to the reports.

"These are also, of course, complicated times in the world and it is natural that India and Austria who have such a warm and friendly relationship that we would discuss many of those issues and see how we can together contribute to international peace and security," Jaishankar said, as reported by ANI.

Source: ANI

Jaishankar congratulated Austria on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and noted the two countries' long history of cooperation within the UN framework. On economic ties, he said cooperation was doing well but could always do better, and pointed to deepening exchanges on people-to-people ties, science and technology, and climate issues.

He also placed the talks in the larger context of the European Union, saying India's ties with the EU had intensified and that New Delhi looked forward to the conclusion and entry into force of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement in the coming months. "Our strategic, our security, defence partnership is advancing. So, I do think we have a good agenda before us," he said.

After the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X: "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger in New Delhi today. Had in depth conversation on various facets of our enhanced partnership, including trade, investments, infrastructure, technology, education and culture. Also spoke about new avenues in startups, space, skilling and mobility." The two ministers also discussed pressing global developments, IANS reported.

Meinl-Reisinger is on an official visit to India from October 27 to November 2. After her New Delhi engagements, she will take part in programmes in Jaipur from October 29 to November 2, the MEA has said.