NEW DELHI: India and Lebanon held their first round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on Monday, reviewing bilateral ties and identifying pharmaceuticals, digital public infrastructure, trade and investment as key areas for expanding cooperation.
The Indian delegation was led by Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while Lebanon's delegation was headed by Ambassador Abdel Sattar Issa, Secretary-General of its Foreign Ministry.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions covered the political-security, economic and socio-cultural aspects of bilateral relations. Both sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation across these areas, with particular focus on pharmaceuticals, digital public infrastructure, trade and investment.
The delegations also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, the ministry said in a post on X.
The consultations follow Ranganathan's visit to Beirut in August, during which she met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The Indian embassy in Beirut described their discussions as fruitful and said they focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and international developments.
During the visit, Ranganathan also met Issa to review bilateral ties and discuss the evolving regional situation. She separately called on Nabih Berri, President of Lebanon's National Assembly, with discussions covering parliamentary exchanges and regional developments.
Monday's meeting marks the beginning of the formal consultation process between the two countries, providing a platform to review existing ties and explore avenues for deeper engagement.
No agreement or joint declaration was announced following the consultations.
With input from media reports