Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed an Indian heads of mission meet, which is brainstorming key foreign policy issues and challenges including India’s engagement with major powers as well as strain in ties with Pakistan and China.

The four-day conference, which began on Thursday, was formally inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday.

The conclave is also expected to discuss major developments globally and how India should mold its policy to deal with them. Envoys have made presentations on the state of India’s bilateral relationship with the countries they are posted to.

India’s relationship with the Trump administration and ties with Russia are also likely to figure in the conclave.

The annual meet is taking place at a time when Indo-Pak ties have nosedived following the beheading of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan military in Jammu and Kashmir and the issue is likely to figure during the discussions.

India’s ties with the resource-rich African continent as well as with the Gulf countries and the situation in the West Asia are also expected to be discussed during the meet.