Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Strengthens Ties at P20 Summit

Amid the sun-drenched shores of this coastal gem, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh turned the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) into a high-stakes diplomatic arena, locking in back-to-back bilateral huddles with top brass from Russia, Germany, Italy, and host nation South Africa. These sidebar powwows zeroed in on turbocharging parliamentary ties, with Harivansh laying out India's bold blueprint for ramping up trade alliances, tech collaborations, and green growth initiatives that could reshape global equations.

Fresh off the heels of India's unyielding crackdown on cross-border threats, Harivansh deftly wove in recollections of recent MP-led missions to these very nations. Those trips, sparked by the devastating April 22 Pahalgam terror strike and the swift reprisal of Operation Sindoor, hammered home New Delhi's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, earning nods of solidarity and paving the way for deeper strategic bonds.

Kicking off with Russia's Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Harivansh spotlighted the duo's rock-solid history of joint ventures in energy, defense, and beyond—hallmarks of a partnership that's weathered decades of geopolitical storms. The chat underscored mutual gains from ongoing dialogues, hinting at fresh avenues to align on Arctic explorations and nuclear tech swaps that could supercharge bilateral momentum.

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Shifting gears to Germany, Harivansh locked eyes with Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour, championing the synergy between the world's largest democracies. He hyped the duo's triumphs in commerce and eco-friendly ventures, while pressing for Berlin's muscle in sealing the long-stalled India-EU Free Trade Agreement. With goods-and-services exchanges already surging past the $50 billion mark, Harivansh dangled the lure of Germany's "Skilled Labour Strategy"—a golden gateway funneling Indian talent into Europe's powerhouse economy, from engineers in Munich to coders in Berlin.

No summit skip for the hosts: Harivansh's tete-a-tete with South Africa's National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza celebrated the unbreakable thread binding the two BRICS giants. From anti-apartheid solidarity to today's shared crusade for equitable global norms, they toasted a vision where developing worlds unite against inequities. India, perched as one of Pretoria's top three trade lifelines, eyes expanded flows in minerals, renewables, and agri-tech to fuel mutual prosperity.

Rounding out the whirlwind, Harivansh huddled with Italy's Senate Vice President Licia Ronzulli and her delegation, toasting strides in commerce and capital, scholarly exchanges, military drills, cultural festivals, and grassroots connections that knit the Mediterranean powerhouse closer to the subcontinent. Talks buzzed with promise on joint R&D hubs and tourism corridors, building on a foundation that's seen Italian firms pour billions into Indian infrastructure.

As the P20 curtains loomed, Harivansh's shuttle diplomacy emerged as a masterclass in soft power, threading India's priorities into the global tapestry. With whispers of follow-up summits and joint resolutions already circulating, these meets signal not just handshakes, but a blueprint for an interconnected tomorrow where New Delhi's voice echoes louder on the world stage. In an era of fractured alliances, Harivansh's outreach stands as a testament to parliamentary prowess driving real-world wins.

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