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Sushma, Kerry to hold first ministerial meet of India-US strategic dialogue
New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America, India and the US are to hold the first ministerial meeting of the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) in Washington on September 22, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj leading the Indian delegation.
The dialogue is the most comprehensive mechanism for discussion and deliberation on the specifics of bilateral agenda of cooperation in different fields.
India and the US launched the ministerial-level strategic dialogue in July 2009. Its first meeting was held in Washington in June 2010, followed by successive rounds in New Delhi (July 2011), Washington D.C. (June 2012) and New Delhi (June 2013 and July 2014).
The decision to elevate the dialogue into a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue was taken during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India in January 2015.
Sushma Swaraj will lead the Indian delegation to the S&CD.
The delegation includes Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
The Indian delegation will have senior officials from various ministries/departments of the central government, said an official statement.
The US delegation would include Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.
They will be accompanied by a high-level inter-agency delegation.
During the dialogue, many bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest would be discussed between the two sides.
The dialogue is expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations between India and the US and also identify possible areas for future cooperation including in strategic, defence and security, energy and environment, science and technology and space, health, education and human development, third country engagement, economy and finance, and trade and investment fields.
The following bilateral dialogue mechanisms are also being held on the sidelines of the S&CD:
Official level Sub Group Meeting of India-US Energy Dialogue (September 17-18), Secretary-level India-US Health Dialogue (September 17-18), Ministerial India-US Energy Dialogue (September 21), India-US CEO Forum (September 21), Secretary-level India-US Joint Working Group on Climate Change (September 21).
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.