There is “unprecedented optimism” and a “new global confidence” in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, said on Wednesday.

In a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha on the Prime Minister’s recent foreign visits, Swaraj said in “rarely seen” speed and resolve in India's external engagement, the country had set ​"​new milestones and reached new frontiers​"​ in foreign policy. “The global response has been just as unparalleled,” she added.

She said since the last session of Parliament that ended in August, Modi visited Japan, the US, Myanmar, Australia, Fiji and Nepal and met 45 international leaders “fr​o​m every inhabited continent in the world.”

“In each visit, Prime Minister reached out to people in every walk of life, on a scale rarely seen before during visits by Indian leaders,” she said, adding that these visits will contribute to the Government’s mission of accelerating economic growth, boosting investment, creating jobs and transforming the quality of life of our people.

Swaraj said India’s relations with Japan had elevated to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, relations with China had been “tangibly deepened” while focusing on outstanding issues, the momentum of strategic partnership with the US had been “restored”, a “new course” in relations with Australia had been charted and the “hesitant” Look East Policy of the past had been translated into a “proactive Act East Policy”.

Some outcomes of PM’s foreign visits

Private funding of 3.5 trillion yen from Japan over 5 years

Agreement with China on 2 industrial parks with $20 bn investment

$42 billion investments plan by US companies over 5 years

Civil nuclear cooperation pact with Australia

New power trade agreement with Nepal

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