S Jaishankar Interview I EAM Speaks To NDTV Profit
#NDTVProfitExclusive: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks to NDTV's Editor-In-Chief Sanjay Pugalia about 100 days of Modi 3.0 and more. #NDTVProfitLive
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00:00Dr. Jha Shankar, when you speak, you should listen to every word carefully.
00:08You should try to find out more than what has happened, what is going to happen.
00:15Sir, you took out a lot of time for us. Thank you very much.
00:18We would like to understand what was the highlight of 100 days as foreign policy activities.
00:25But before that, I would like to tell you that two images were dominating in our minds.
00:30That is the 10-hour train journey from Poland to Kiev by the Prime Minister.
00:35And our NSA briefing Putin about what the Prime Minister has done in the last few days.
00:43Please explain this to us in your style and perspective.
00:47First of all, Mr. Sanjay, I am very happy to be on your channel once again.
01:01As you know, today is the 100th day of the third program.
01:08And because this is the third program, we have been preparing from the beginning.
01:15We got off to a very fast start.
01:20Now, I would like to present two aspects in the field of foreign policy.
01:27One is the progress of India, the targets and objectives of national development.
01:36How can we move forward through foreign policy?
01:40First of all, I would like to say that all the visits and meetings have been done on the basis of foreign policy.
01:47Secondly, it is our responsibility to maintain stability and peace in the world.
01:53And because this is also necessary for us, how can we increase it?
01:57So, if you look at the last 100 days, there have been some activities such as the Prime Minister went to Singapore.
02:07His speech was on many topics.
02:09But if I give priority to anyone, then it was the topic of semiconductors.
02:15Or in the incoming visit, the Prime Minister of Malaysia came.
02:22And he signed a mobility agreement that our skilled manpower should go to Malaysia.
02:28So, I would say that there were direct economic issues.
02:32And there are many countries in this, our new programs, new initiatives.
02:38As you know, 12 industrial nodes are going to be built.
02:42We are going to take the infrastructure forward.
02:46How can we increase the skilling and talent?
02:50So, many countries also want to join in such things.
02:54And because of the personal connections of our PM and his efforts, this alliance is moving forward.
03:03The second topic, and you talked about Ukraine and Moscow.
03:07I would say that our contribution is that what can we do?
03:12This war is now the third year.
03:17Apart from this, there are some other tensions.
03:19As you know, there is a war in the Middle East, in Gaza.
03:24So, what can we do for peace?
03:29And the Prime Minister went to Russia in July.
03:32After that, he went to Ukraine in August.
03:35So, in this, we are also talking to other countries.
03:41Members of G7 are also being discussed.
03:45So, how can we take it forward?
03:47So, I would say that these are two big topics in the last 100 days.
03:53Absolutely.
03:54One thing that has emerged very clearly is that our foreign policy stance this time is very bold and decisive.
04:02And India is preparing to position the world in a new way.
04:09I think a lot of things are going to unfold now.
04:13So, we would like to know how India is positioning itself.
04:18We see the problems of American democracy.
04:23We see how China is moving in isolation.
04:28There is a fall in Europe.
04:30There is an emergence of Asia and India's role in it.
04:33So, how can we connect these dots?
04:35Look, if you want to understand India's positioning,
04:44look at these 100 days.
04:46The first visit of the PM was to G7, the organization of Western countries.
04:53He went to Italy to meet them.
04:56After that, since the parliamentary session was going on, he could not go himself.
05:02But I was a representative from his side.
05:05There was a meeting of the SCO in Astana.
05:09So, these are mostly Russia, China, Central Asia, Iran.
05:15After that, if you look at Russia and Ukraine, we have made relations with both of them.
05:24And now we are in a position where the PM can sit down with both the presidents and have a very extensive conversation.
05:32Also, there is going to be a Quad in a few days.
05:36The PM also went to ASEAN.
05:39And if you look at our neighbors, most of them came during the time of oath-taking.
05:48And during this time, in the month of August, the Voice of Global South Summit was held.
05:54More than 100 developing countries participated in this summit.
06:00So, we are, as I told you once before, everyone together, everyone's development.
06:05How can we make it with the maximum countries in the world?
06:10How can we influence it in the big topics of the world?
06:14And what I will say is that our national interest and what we are doing for the good of the world,
06:21there is no contradiction in this.
06:24We can do both together.
06:26For this, our positioning is very good.
06:29Yes.
06:30What you said about India, that our national goal is to fulfill it.
06:35All the work of foreign policy is directed towards it.
06:40So, I would like to understand.
06:41You made a very interesting statement that we have resolved 75% of our issues with China.
06:48And the second important thing you said is that the imbalance of trade needs to be balanced.
06:55Many of us believe that India and China can have any problems.
07:00But for the economic growth of India, the kind of business and investment needed here all over the world,
07:08it is obvious that foreign policy is also powering it on a very large scale.
07:12So, if you want to say something about economic activity and that roadmap.
07:20Look, it is like this.
07:22If we talk about India's capacity,
07:26until we do not have technology, we cannot develop.
07:33Until we do not have manufacturing, where will technology come from?
07:39So, I would say that the foundation is manufacturing.
07:48We need to develop manufacturing.
07:52Orthodox means normal manufacturing and tomorrow's manufacturing.
07:57Which you think is new emerging technology.
07:59Like semiconductors, drones, space, electric mobility.
08:05But at the same time, you should also take your engineering goods and other manufacturing.
08:13Now, it is our misfortune that for many decades, we have been left behind in manufacturing.
08:24There is still a debate on this.
08:29Some people say that we are not capable of manufacturing.
08:33Some people say that it is due to the environment.
08:39But they put obstacles on the logic of the environment.
08:43So, how can we do manufacturing now?
08:47Because until manufacturing does not increase, employment will not increase in your country.
08:51So, in order to increase manufacturing, the Modi government has given priority that
08:58these 12 industrial nodes should be built throughout the country.
09:02And at the same time, the need for skills,
09:06which you must have seen, the formal budget, the full year budget,
09:12it was also given priority for skilling.
09:16Industrial nodes should also move forward.
09:18Its infrastructure should also move forward.
09:20So that raw material comes, finished goods come out.
09:24And the preparation of human resources should also move forward.
09:27And I can tell you this.
09:29I have just come from Germany and Switzerland.
09:31There is a lot of enthusiasm about India in the world right now.
09:37The companies of the world are looking at India very seriously.
09:44And if we can give a positive message from here,
09:48we can give a business-friendly message,
09:51we can give a talent-friendly message,
09:55our infrastructure should move forward.
09:57For this, we need progress.
09:59For this, the more we confuse people here,
10:04or if the environment of instability or confusion is our messaging,
10:11then the response of the world will be something else.
10:13But I have complete faith that in the last 100 years,
10:16our signaling is very positive.
10:18The big decisions of the government,
10:21on industry, on infrastructure, on skilling,
10:26the world will definitely accept it.
10:29And I think the world will respond to it.
10:31Yes.
10:32Although you said that there should be no other kind of voices.
10:36Look, our opinion is very clear that the positioning of India all over the world
10:40is now a matter of consensus.
10:42And this kind of domestic noise or someone going out and saying something,
10:45it has no effect at all.
10:47So actually, we can completely neglect it.
10:50But since our policy, Prime Minister Modi's policy,
10:53to walk with neighbors,
10:56and one of his big visions was that a lot of work has been done.
10:59A lot of work has been done with Gulf countries,
11:01which has never happened before in history.
11:04In such a situation, when such energy is driving us,
11:07then there are a few small irritations in it,
11:10it is important to understand it so that we can understand whether it is a big thing or a small thing.
11:15For example, a statement by the Supreme Leader of Iran,
11:18or another example, the political changes that have taken place in Bangladesh,
11:22since diplomacy is out of the question,
11:25how are you and Mr. Modi handling it?
11:32Look, you are absolutely right that
11:35sometimes it is not that everything is in your favor.
11:40Somewhere or the other, such voices come,
11:43some people say something or do something,
11:45this happens, this is natural.
11:47So, the statement that came, you saw that
11:50our spokesman commented on it yesterday,
11:54so I don't need to say much more than that.
11:57The events that have taken place in Bangladesh,
12:00look, they also have their own politics,
12:04now whatever happened in it,
12:06means it is their internal affair.
12:08The government of the day for us,
12:11we make a relationship with it and take it forward.
12:15So, I believe that
12:19in a way, those people also understand their position once,
12:25and if they also understand the importance of relationships,
12:30then I feel that
12:33the quality and level of neighborly relationships are something else.
12:39Neighbors are dependent on each other.
12:44So, I have complete faith that
12:47in this, like the rest of our neighbors,
12:51where there were some political events before,
12:54and you saw that it was settled after that,
12:57then what will happen internally in Bangladesh,
13:03we will not be able to comment on that.
13:07But our relations,
13:10we want to keep it stable,
13:13we want to move it forward,
13:15there is good cooperation,
13:17our business is good,
13:19people to people cooperation is good,
13:22so I would like to go on this path.
13:25Sir, you have given us 15 minutes,
13:27so I would like to ask you one last question,
13:29and that is forward-looking,
13:31because the agenda ahead is also very action-packed with foreign policy,
13:35and a big milestone will be going to New York,
13:38and the UN General Assembly,
13:40and apart from that, there are many meetings in the sidelines.
13:43So, what are the actions and agendas
13:46that we should keep an eye on,
13:48what India will be doing on the global stage in the coming days?
13:55Look, right now I would say,
13:58that in the coming days,
14:00there are two big events,
14:03one is the Summit of the Future,
14:05Summit of the Future,
14:07because, as you know,
14:09these Sustainable Development Goals,
14:11especially the developing countries,
14:15this is an assessment of their progress,
14:18they were given targets,
14:20that by 2030,
14:22these targets will be achieved.
14:25Now, due to COVID-19,
14:27and there are some other reasons as well,
14:29because of that, all of you,
14:31these targets are far behind,
14:33this is a matter of concern.
14:35Now, the preparations for that,
14:37we saw that,
14:40in August,
14:42our Prime Minister,
14:44this was the third Voice of Global Summit,
14:47so when he called for a meeting,
14:50so, the developing countries,
14:52I would say,
14:54their concerns,
14:58they had expressed their concerns,
15:00and I feel that,
15:02in Summit of the Future,
15:04whatever the Prime Minister will say,
15:06the world will listen very carefully.
15:09The second is,
15:11the Quad meeting,
15:13you know that,
15:15this will be the last Quad of President Biden,
15:18and Japan's Prime Minister,
15:20they have also come to an end.
15:24So, this,
15:26in the last few years,
15:28there has been a lot of progress in the Quad,
15:30so we would like that,
15:32in this meeting,
15:34some more steps should be taken,
15:36so I will not be able to tell you
15:38in more detail at this time,
15:40but if you say that,
15:42forward prediction,
15:44if you do,
15:46I would say,
15:48you must follow these two.
15:50One more question,
15:52a very small one,
15:54can we say that,
15:56Prime Minister Modi's third program,
15:58this time,
16:00foreign policy,
16:02India's foreign policy,
16:04will be defined,
16:06and a big leadership of world peace,
16:08will come forward,
16:10Modi will lead it,
16:12this program,
16:14what do you think?
16:16No,
16:18I would say that,
16:20this third program,
16:22in India,
16:24there will be a lot of progress,
16:26you will see,
16:28that,
16:30national development,
16:32in different areas,
16:34I have complete faith,
16:36that we will be able to do a lot,
16:38that if in the last 10 years,
16:40so much infrastructure,
16:42so many educational institutions,
16:44have been set up,
16:46whatever numbers you see,
16:48airports, railways,
16:50roads,
16:52we will be able to double
16:54this in the next 5 years.
16:56So,
16:58in my mind,
17:00every country,
17:02every program,
17:04ultimately,
17:06how will you define it,
17:08I would say that,
17:10we will define it through national development,
17:12but,
17:14I would also say that,
17:16because now,
17:18in the world,
17:20Modi ji,
17:22especially in the democratic world,
17:24is one of the senior,
17:26leaders,
17:28and people respect him,
17:30their,
17:32their thoughts,
17:34people give strength to it,
17:36so today,
17:38this war,
17:40this struggle,
17:42this tension,
17:44I feel that,
17:46India,
17:48especially the Prime Minister,
17:50can contribute to it,
17:52in a personal way,
17:54and you,
17:56in a way,
17:58in the first 100 days,
18:00you can see a lot in it.
18:02Absolutely. In 100 days,
18:04we have seen,
18:06that there will be an action-packed agenda,
18:08on the front of domestic policy,
18:10and on the front of foreign policy.
18:12Congratulations to you,
18:14and thank you,
18:16Foreign Minister, for taking out time for us.
18:20Namaskar.