New Delhi: The 13th Foreign Office Consultations meeting between India and Finland was held in Helsinki. The two countries took full review of bilateral cooperation and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, digitalization, quantum computing, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, clean technology, circular economy, education, research and development, as well as people-to-people ties and mobility.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Ranadhir Jaiswale said on Twitter: “The 13th India-Finland Foreign Office Consultations were held in Helsinki today. Secretary (West) Sibi George from India and Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara from Finland chaired the meeting. The two sides thoroughly reviewed mutual cooperation and agreed to further advance it in various fields.” He said, “India considers Finland an important partner in the European Union and the Nordic region. Finland reiterated its support for the early conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (India-EU FTA). Views were also exchanged on regional and global issues at the meeting.” Earlier on August 30, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, in which the Ukraine conflict and its implications were discussed. Jaishankar had said that “India should not be unfairly targeted in this context. India has always been in favor of dialogue and diplomacy.”

On August 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on phone with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The two leaders discussed ways to increase cooperation in areas like trade, technology and sustainable development. Prime Minister Modi described Finland as “India’s valuable partner in the European Union”. He wrote on President Stubbs also reiterated his support for the early conclusion of an India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and wished for the success of the AI ​​Impact Summit to be held in India in 2026.