Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Italy attending the G7 Summit, where he is engaging in significant bilateral meetings with global leaders. The summit is being held at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy’s Apulia region.
India has been invited as an Outreach country, marking PM Modi’s first overseas visit since assuming office for the third consecutive term.
Advancing India-France partnership!
PM @narendramodi and French President @EmmanuelMacron held a bilateral meeting in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. They discussed a wide range of issues, like increasing partnership in key areas like defence, AI, critical tech and… pic.twitter.com/w09PgGyFmi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 14, 2024
During the summit, PM Modi has held important bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
He is also scheduled to meet the Pope and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Previously, PM Modi had met President Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May last year. External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the packed schedule, noting that PM Modi would be addressing the Outreach session of the G7 Summit.
Modi and Macron at G7 Summit
In a meeting with President Macron, discussions focused on strengthening partnerships in various fields, including defence, nuclear energy, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity, and culture.
Global and regional issues were also on the agenda. The first day of the summit was heavily centered on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with leaders agreeing on a US proposal to back a $50-billion loan to Kyiv using frozen Russian assets. US President Joe Biden described this as a “significant outcome” and a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
PM Modi at G7 Summit
In his departure statement, PM Modi expressed his pleasure in making Italy his first foreign visit in his third term. He recalled his visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021 and noted the importance of Prime Minister Meloni’s visits to India last year in enhancing the bilateral agenda.
PM Modi affirmed India’s commitment to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the significance of hosting the summit in southern Italy, aiming to strengthen dialogue with the Global South.
Italy is India’s fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade worth $15 billion, underscoring the importance of their strategic partnership.
PM Modi’s address at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit is expected to highlight India’s strategic interests and contributions to global issues. The series of meetings and discussions at the G7 Summit reflect India’s growing diplomatic engagement and strategic partnerships on the global stage, reinforcing its role in addressing key international challenges.
