00:00See, as far as Venezuela is concerned, it has been a long-standing partner for us in the area of energy,
00:06both on the trade side and as also on the investment side.
00:10We were importing energy or crude oil from Venezuela till 2019-20, and thereafter we had to stop.
00:20Again, we started buying oil from Venezuela in 2023-2024,
00:26but had to stop, which were halted because of re-imposition of sanctions.
00:33As you are aware, Indian PSUs have established partnership with the National Oil Company of Venezuela,
00:40PDVSA, and PSUs have maintained presence in the country since 2008.
00:47Consistent with our approach to energy security,
00:51India remains open to exploring the commercial merits of any crude supply options, including from Venezuela.
01:03Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Let's begin our conversation.
01:06The floor is open.
01:08Okay, we go from here.
01:11Ayushi.
01:11So, this is Ayushi from ANI.
01:16Recently, President Trump claimed that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil
01:21and shift buying crude from Venezuela and United States.
01:24Any comments on that and what is India's current policy on Russian oil imports, if you can clarify?
01:31Yeshi.
01:32This is Yeshi Seli from Business India.
01:35Associated question.
01:36What is the status of this trade deal?
01:39Were negotiations done or was it based on just the phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi?
01:48Keshav.
01:49Sir, Keshav Pratmanabhan from The Print.
01:53Reports have indicated that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had a secret meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio sometime late last year.
02:01Can you give us details on whether such a meeting occurred and what happened?
02:05And I just wanted to follow up on the Indian sailors in Iran, 16 sailors.
02:10You said that you had requested for consular access.
02:12Could you give us a status on that as well?
02:16Jessica.
02:19Hi, sir.
02:19This is Jessica for DD India.
02:21Sir, could you tell us more about the critical minerals ministerial that Dr. Jaishankar took part along with 50 other nations?
02:28Some more details about what all was discussed and what all is being planned.
02:33So there was a bipartisan U.S. delegation that came to India last week.
02:44If you can give us more details, what were the discussions like and what were the main focus of the delegation?
02:50Okay, Reza.
02:53Reza from Hindustan Times.
02:58Just a quick clarification on the critical minerals ministerial.
03:03There is talk about U.S. creating a stockpile of critical minerals.
03:08Are we looking at joining that?
03:10And if there is any clarity on how materials will be allocated from that stockpile?
03:14Okay, so let's, Ayushi, first come to your question.
03:21Insofar as India's energy security or energy sourcing is concerned,
03:28the government has stated publicly on several locations, including me here,
03:34that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government.
03:44Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions
03:49and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this.
03:55All of India's decisions are taken and will be taken with this in mind.
04:30Also, since Ayushi asked related question to Venezuela, so I would like to answer that as well.
04:56See, as far as Venezuela is concerned, it has been a long-standing partner for us in the area of energy,
05:03both on the trade side and as also on the investment side.
05:07We were importing energy or crude oil from Venezuela till 2019-20,
05:13and thereafter we had to stop.
05:15Again, we started buying oil from Venezuela in 2023-2024, but had to stop, which were halted because of re-imposition of sanctions.
05:29As you are aware that Indian PSUs, they have established partnership with the National Oil Company of Venezuela, PDVSA,
05:38and PSUs have maintained presence in the country since 2008.
05:43Consistent with our approach to energy security, India remains open to exploring the commercial merits of any crude supply options, including from Venezuela.
05:59Asheed, in regard to your question, Commerce and Industry Minister has already spoken.
06:06In fact, today also he has given a statement, so I would refer you to please have a look at those statements for clarity on the issues that you raised.
06:13Keshav, responding to your question regarding the report by Bloomberg, I would like to say that there is absolutely no basis for that report.
06:23No such meeting or no such visit has taken place.
06:30On Iran, the 16 sailors that you mentioned, we have had consular access.
06:36Our consulate in Mandar Abbas, our officials in Mandar Abbas, they have gone and met them.
06:41Of those 16, 8 people, this is what we have been informed by the Iranian authorities.
06:468 of them have been released and they will be returning home as and when necessary formalities in their regard for the travel is completed.
06:58In regard to the remaining 8 sailors, we are in touch with Iranian authorities.
07:03And we will see how best to support them for whatever need they may have.
07:14On critical mineral partnership, Jessica, External Affairs Minister, attended this meeting, which was hosted by the U.S. side.
07:22We had over 50 countries who participated.
07:27If I remember correctly, 54 countries plus European Union participated in the meeting.
07:37External Affairs Minister was there.
07:38After he made his remarks and in his remarks, he highlighted the challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply.
07:53He also talked about structured international cooperation.
07:57He also highlighted India's efforts towards greater resilience through national critical mineral mission that we have, rare earth corridor and responsible commerce.
08:10And he conveyed support for the Forge initiative that has been set in motion post this critical minerals partnership.
08:17Rizha, in regard to your question, I don't have any further details, but I can tell you that India is supportive of Forge initiative, which in a sense replaces critical mineral initiatives that was there earlier in place.
08:29Rizha, on your question regarding the U.S. delegation, this delegation comprising three congressmen, they visited India from 25th to 27th.
08:43We have regular exchanges with the U.S. Congress members and us, regular dialogue, conversations going, and it's an important part of our India-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership that we have.
08:56These three congressmen who were here, they were representative Mike Rogers, he's a Republican from Alabama, representative Adam Smith, he's a Democrat from Washington, and representative Jimmy Patronis, he's a Republican from Florida.
09:14It was a bipartisan declaration that we had here.
09:17They were also accompanied by senior staff members.
09:19They had a meeting, they called on the External Affairs Minister.
09:21They also had a meeting with the Defense Secretary.
09:25Discussion centered around bilateral ties, bilateral cooperation, matters of trade, Ukraine issue, what we are doing together in the Indo-Pacific.
09:37They also had a meeting with industry leaders, in particular in the defense sector.
09:41So overall, it was a good meeting, and the fact that it was a bilateral bipartisan congressional delegation from the U.S. reflects that there is strong bipartisan support for India-U.S. relations.
09:58Can we move forward?
10:28Okay.
10:29Okay.
10:30Okay.
10:31Okay.
10:32Okay.
10:33Okay, Madhu.
11:03Sir, I have a related question about the Russian oil, sir, issue.
11:11Sir, what has been suggested in pro-establishment US media like Fox News and others is that the
11:17US agreed to a trade deal after India agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil.
11:22So, I just want a clarification.
11:24If the US asked India to stop purchasing Russian oil as a precondition for agreeing to a trade deal,
11:31Sir, on a related note, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said yesterday
11:36that India-Russia Energy Corporation has been mutually beneficial for both the countries
11:41and has helped maintain stability in international crude market.
11:45Do you share that assessment, sir?
11:48Mr. Brahm.
11:51Mr. Brahmapakash Duvezinu.
11:55Mr. Brahmapakash Duva,
12:32Qadambini Sharma, independent journalist. Sir, just a clarification about Venezuelan oil. Will it be coming via US and if so, what is the legality and long-term legal viability of this?
14:57गोशना पत्र जारी किया है बांगलादेश चुनाओ को लेकर कुछ वादे किये हैं उसमें भारत के साथ constructive, peaceful and friendly relation हो इसका जिक्र किया है भारत इस comment को कैसे देखता है जबकि भारत का बार बार ये कहना है कि भारत बांगलादेश में समावेसी चुनाओ चाता है जबकि अवाम
15:27अमान में मीटिंग होनी है अमेरिका और इरान की इसको भारत कैसे देखता है और विदेश मंतरी जैशंकर जी की मारको रुबियो से जो बात्चीत में इरान को लेकर क्या कुछ वारता हुई इस पर अगर कुछ प्रकास टलना जाहें
15:41Yeah, Megha
15:46Good afternoon, sir. Megha from NewsX. My question about the statement that has been released just now by the Commerce Minister saying that there is going to be a joint statement that is going to be issued both by US and Indian officials. Is it going to be physically issued in India or in America? Are there any American officials expected to come to India or any Indian officials headed to United States of America?
16:08And also about the FTA, he said by mid-March is what is expected that the FTA is going to be signed. Is it going to be signing of the deal virtually, physically? Is the Prime Minister going to America or the US President coming to India?
16:25Raghavindra?
16:26Sir, this is Raghavindra Verma from German Television ZDF. This is regarding the India European Union trade deal. So what do we have a timeline of the actual signing of the deal? Is it correct that presently the only the legal vetting of the details of the deal has been pending?
16:49And with the US deal, would it be a similar one, something which will be signed and then later on vetted? And what would be the actual deal? And in India, the process goes only to the approval to Cabinet and not for the Parliament. Is it correct, unlike European Union?
17:07Anas?
17:11Anas?
17:12Good afternoon. Just a little clarification. I mean, there has been confusion about the US tariff now.
17:22uh us tariff now in fact as of now what is the tariff actually it is it is uh 18 percent from
17:2825 percent or it is 18 percent from uh 50 percent and uh and yes if i mean do you think uh president
17:38okay so first uh neeraj aapka sawa dekhe bangladesh me chunau hona
17:47hai us ke baare mei amne kai dfah hamarah aapna paksha rakhah hai toh mein chahun ga ki
17:51aap joh hum logon ne ispa baat rakhhi hai samawashi chunai ke baare mei ka hai us
17:54par ap dhyan dhe neeraj iran waali baat
17:58dun Мы запasандным сомопросом, lorsque за сомогу вы попались о том, что вы получили это
18:26And in the two countries, in the two countries, there are several issues in which there are
18:32the global issues, the original issues and the global issues.
18:39Again, you know, the Commerce Minister has given you several details in his statements.
18:46Again, today also he has spoken about the various aspects relating to the trade deal.
18:51So I would request you to please look at those details that have been shared.
18:57And if there are further developments in this regard, we will share them with you.
19:02Raghvind on India, UAFTA, there are internal, as you know, last week we had the signing of this historic landmark trade deal.
19:14Now, the trade deal, the trade agreement, they have to undergo internal processes in both sides in the European Union and also here in India.
19:23But let me tell you, both sides remain politically committed to implement the agreement as soon as possible.
19:31Manas, your question about tariff.
19:38So, let me refer you to the statements that have been made by both sides.
19:44Prime Minister had a telecon with President Trump on Monday.
19:50Post that call and post the tweet by President Trump, Prime Minister thanked President Trump for the reduction in reciprocal tariff.
20:00Prime Minister noted that made in India products will now be exported to the United States at a reduced tariff of 18 percent.
20:08This trade agreement, as we see it, will give a major boost to our exports to the United States.
20:13It will be a major boost to the labour-intensive industries here in India, create new job opportunities, growth and prosperity for our people.
20:20Also, let me say that the U.S. side has also clarified that the final figure of tariff is 18 percent.
20:27Pardon mic,or President Trump.
20:37Sorry?
20:38our
20:41president
20:45of
20:47conversation
20:48of
20:50president
20:52of
20:53the
20:55president
20:57of
20:58the
20:59president
21:00of
21:01the
21:02president
21:03of
21:04America
21:05of
21:11Russia
21:14of
21:18Russia
21:20of
21:22Russia
21:25of
21:27Russia
21:29of
21:31Russia
21:33With that, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your presence.
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