On September 12, 2024, in Geneva, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Jaishankar and Ghebreyesus talked on India’s continued collaboration with the international health organization during their meeting, specifically in the fields of traditional medicine and several public health campaigns. This exchange illustrates the growing partnership between India and the WHO, particularly in light of India’s global promotion of traditional medicine practices like Ayurveda. It is consistent with India’s larger efforts at global health diplomacy.
Jaishankar’s three-nation journey included stops in Germany and Saudi Arabia in addition to Geneva. Given India’s growing influence in international health issues—including its handling of the COVID-19 epidemic and its pioneering work in supplying developing countries with accessible healthcare—his talks with the WHO are noteworthy.
Jaishankar wrote on X, the platform that was once known as Twitter, about how happy he was to meet the Director-General of the WHO and how important their conversation was. Through the sharing of meeting photos, he emphasized the collaborative efforts between WHO and India, namely in expanding the worldwide reach of traditional Indian medicine systems and tackling global health issues.
In addition to meeting with Ghebreyesus, Jaishankar also had talks with Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The External Affairs Minister discussed India’s viewpoints on international human rights concerns during this discussion. India has consistently stressed its support for human rights and the need for a fair approach to problem-solving, taking into account the disparities in socioeconomic circumstances among nations. India was able to share its perspectives on addressing global human rights issues through the venue that Jaishankar’s meeting with Turk offered.
Jaishankar also gave a speech at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, where he discussed his opinions on the geopolitical changes that are now taking place throughout the world. He recognized that in order to maintain peace and security, nations must adjust to the shifting dynamics of international relations. He was grateful to ambassadors Thomas Greminger and Jean-David Levitte for giving him a place to stay at the think tank and for the chance to talk about issues related to international security.
In conclusion, Jaishankar’s activities in Geneva served to highlight India’s expanding influence in international security, human rights, and global health. His talks with representatives of the WHO and UN, as well as his speech at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, demonstrate India’s strategic stance toward international collaboration and governance.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
