Jaishankar Highlights Historic India-V4 Meeting and New Cooperation

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the first high-level meeting between India and the Visegrad Four (V4) as a “new historic occasion” following talks with the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

The meeting resulted in an agreement to establish annual meetings of foreign ministers and explore the creation of an annual business forum to deepen economic engagement between India and the four Central European nations.

Jaishankar said the discussions also focused on expanding cooperation in technology and innovation, while India and the V4 countries looked at ways to reinvigorate their longstanding defence cooperation. Other areas discussed included space, connectivity, education and people-to-people mobility.

The ministers also exchanged views on major international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Gulf, alongside broader multilateral issues.

Jaishankar highlighted the distinctive capabilities of the V4 countries, describing them as industrial economies with significant innovation and technology talent. He said India welcomed the opportunity to work collectively with the V4 while noting that the future evolution of the grouping remained for its members to determine.

The Visegrad Group comprises Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The first India-V4 foreign ministers’ meeting was convened by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár during Slovakia’s V4 presidency.

The meeting marks a new institutional framework for India’s engagement with the four Central European countries, with annual ministerial dialogue and business engagement planned alongside cooperation in defence, technology, space, connectivity and people-to-people relations.

Media Briefing after the first Visegrád Group (V4) + India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting #UNGA81 #UNHighLevelWeek

🇮🇳 🇸🇰 🇵🇱 🇭🇺 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/DTZTgyKFeQ

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2026