Diplomacy

During the interaction, Doval reportedly described India as a large ship in which all citizens travel together, stressing that the country’s future depends on collective responsibility rather than isolated identities. His message was clear: Indians, irrespective of religion or community, are part of the same national journey, and the country can progress only when every section feels invested in that journey.

During the visit, Shri Prasada held meetings with senior Czech leaders, including Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade; Jan Sechter, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; and Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. These meetings reviewed the progress of India–Czech economic ties and explored fresh opportunities in priority sectors where both countries can build stronger business and industrial linkages.

The theme for the summit is “IA SPIRIT: India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation.” The title reflects the direction of the relationship, moving beyond traditional development cooperation into newer areas such as innovation, digital technology, sustainability, capacity building and inclusive growth.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides discussed ways to advance the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with particular focus on strengthening defence and security cooperation. The dialogue also covered a broader exchange of views on regional and global security challenges, underlining the expanding strategic coordination between New Delhi and London.

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the new arrangement took effect on April 10, 2026. He said Indian passport holders passing through mainland French airports solely for air transit will now be exempt from the transit visa requirement, easing travel for passengers using France as a connecting point to other international destinations.