The Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, is scheduled to visit the Philippines, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from January 14 to 21, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.
As per the MEA, Margherita’s visit to the Philippines on January 14 will include meetings with the Philippine leadership and a floral tribute at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Centre for Peace Education, Miriam College in Manila. Additionally, he will engage with the Indian diaspora in the country. The visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines bilateral relations.
On January 16, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Palau, Margherita will attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Surangel Whipps Jr. and hold discussions with Palau’s leadership regarding development projects undertaken by India in the country. This marks Whipps Jr.’s second term as Palau’s president.
Margherita will then travel to the Federated States of Micronesia on January 18 for the first-ever ministerial-level visit from India. During his time in FSM, he will hold meetings with the nation’s leadership.
Following the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2023 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Margherita’s visit to Palau and FSM reinforces India’s continued engagement with Pacific Island Countries (PICs), as highlighted by the MEA.
The ministry emphasized that the visit aligns with India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. “The visit of MOS (PM) to the region is expected to further strengthen and deepen India’s traditionally close partnership with the Philippines, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as part of India’s Act East Policy and our vision of the Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.
