Lok Sabha Question No. 4261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Parliamentary Exchanges with Neighbouring Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4261 ANSWERED ON- 20/12/2024

## PARLIAMENTARY EXCHANGES WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

4261. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a)   whether   a   number   of   Parliamentary   Exchanges   have   been conducted by the Government recently in alignment with the emphasis on the Neighborhood First Policy adopted in the recent years;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of all Parliamentary Exchanges held in the recent years with special reference to the People's Majlis of Maldives;

(d)   whether   any   new   Parliamentary   Exchange   is   currently   being planned; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a to c) In keeping with the objectives of  the 'Neighborhood First' Policy for enhancing people to people relations, regular parliamentary exchanges with our neighbouring countries have been taking place over the years. The details of the recent parliamentary exchanges with our neighbouring countries including with Maldives are at Annexure I.

(d & e) At the invitation of Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, Speaker of People's   Republic   of   Maldives   accompanied   by   a   parliamentary delegation will visit India from 10-14 February 2025.

## Annexure-I

| Name of the Country   | Details of Parliamentary Exchanges in the recent past                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Maldives              |  Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha visited Maldives from 1- 4 September 2019.  Speaker of Maldives visited India in December 2019.  Speaker of Maldives visited India in April 2022.  Speaker of Maldives visited India in August 2022.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Sri Lanka             |  An 11-member Sri Lankan Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker visited India from 16-20 December 2023.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Bhutan                |  A thirteen member delegation led by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan visited India from 5- 11 February 2023. During the visit, an MoU between Lok Sabha and the National Assembly of Bhutan on Strengthening Parliamentary Cooperation was signed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|                       | Apart from above visit, the following interactions have taken place between the parliamentary representatives of the two countries:  Two senior staff of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Mr. Abhijit Kumar and Mr. Ram Chander Tiwari visited Bhutan from 20-22 May 2019 for conducting a 'Parliamentary Workshop on Budget Analysis and Scrutiny' for Economic and Finance Committee of Parliament of Bhutan.  Hon'ble Lok Sabha Speaker and Chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan interacted during the 141 st Assembly of inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Belgrade from 13-17 October, 2019.  Hon'ble Vice President of India and Chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan interacted during UN |

|       | International Day of Vesak celebration 2019 from 9-12 May 2019 in Vietnam.  Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha and Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan had fruitful discussion in Male during the 4 th South Asian Speakers Summit from 01-02 September 2019.  Hon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha met the Speaker of Bhutan National Assembly during Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU-149) in Geneva on 14 th October, 2024.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Nepal |  Visit of First Cohort of Youth Leaders including parliamentarians from Nepal to India from 10-20 December 2023 was coordinated by ORF.  Visit of Seven member delegation including parliamentarians for the Raisina Dialogue in March 2023.  Visit of Twelve young leaders including Parliamentarians from 28 March 2023 to 04 April 2023 was facilitated through India-Nepal Friendship Society.  Participation of Nepal parliamentarians in the Dialogue on 'Nature's solves: A new framework of our sustainable future' in Shillong by ORF from 5-7 July 2023.  Visit of Second Cohort of Nepali Youth Delegation including parliamentarians from 25 September 2024 to 03 October 2024, was coordinated by ORF.  Visit of the delegation of members of Nepalese Parliamentary Committee on International Relation & Tourism to India from 30 January 2024 to 07 February 2024. |

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