United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

♦ The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) began in Nice, France, on 9 June 2025.

♦ This was co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica.

♦ Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, serves as the Conference Secretary-General.

♦ The conference concludes on June 13.

♦ France and Brazil launched a landmark international initiative to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action.

♦ The Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge calls on all countries to place the ocean at the heart of their climate plans ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host in November, 2025.

♦ Alongside Brazil and France, an inaugural group of eight countries — Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles — has already joined the initiative, committing to include the ocean in their updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement.

♦ The Fourth UN Ocean Conference (UNOC4) was announced to be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea in 2028.

India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 6 June 2025

♦ The 4th meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 6 June 2025 under the chairship of the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

♦ Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the meeting.

♦ The dialogue was focused on strengthening regional cooperation, with discussions covering trade, connectivity, technology, and development partnerships.

♦ The ministers also exchange views on regional security and other pressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) on 5 June 2025

♦ India and Kyrgyzstan signed the Protocol and exchanged the Instrument of Ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) on 5 June 2025.

♦ The BIT was signed in presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Affairs Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Zheenbek Kulubaev Moldokanovich in New Delhi.

♦ The new Treaty replaces the earlier agreement enforced on 12th May 2000, ensuring continuity in the protection of investments between the two nations.

♦ Highlighting its benefits, the Finance Ministry said that the India-Kyrgyz BIT marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral economic relations and fostering a secure and predictable investment environment. 

♦ It aims to promote and protect interests of investors of either country in the territory of the other country with various key features.

♦ The Ministry added that the treaty is expected to further encourage cross-border investments and deepen economic cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan.

Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi

♦ India and the United Kingdom held the 17th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi, where the two sides reviewed the full spectrum of their bilateral ties.

♦ The meeting also marked the launch of the first Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue (SETCD), aimed at deepening collaboration in high-technology and strategic sectors.

♦ Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri led the Indian delegation, while the UK side was represented by Sir Oliver Robbins, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The last FOC was held in London in May 2024.

♦ The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across areas such as trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, climate action, green energy, science and innovation, education, and people-to-people ties. 

♦ The inaugural SETCD addressed export control mechanisms, with a view to facilitating greater technology collaboration in strategic areas.