'Modi Most Loved Among World
Leaders': Italian PM Meloni Says after Arriving in
India
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being a major world leader after she arrived
in New Delhi on Thursday to attend the eighth edition of Raisina
Dialogue.
Meloni was welcomed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati
Bhavan and was accorded a tri-services guard of honour.
"(PM Modi) is the most loved one
of all (leaders) around the world. This is really proven that he has been a
major leader and congratulations for that," Italian PM Giorgia
Meloni said.
Giorgia Meloni will
be the chief guest and the keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the
eighth Raisina Dialogue, according to the Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA).
Meloni said that both the countries have
decided to turn the partnership into a strategic partnership.
"We wanted to further boost this
relation and this is the reason why we have decided to turn our partnership
into a strategic partnership because we have very solid relationship," the
Italian PM said after meeting with PM Narendra Modi.
PM Modi welcomed the Italian Prime Minister on her first
visit to the country and congratulated her for becoming the first woman and the
youngest Prime Minister of Italy.
Modi and Meloni
are scheduled to hold talks on bilateral, regional and global issues Thursday
afternoon.
"Both sides will take stock of the
progress on the key outcomes of the November 2020 Summit, strengthen security
and defence cooperation, work towards closer economic ties, enhance opportunity
for mobility of talent and give strategic guidance to ongoing collaboration in
science and technology," a statement issued by the External Affairs
Ministry said ahead of the visit.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
will call on the Italian prime minister as well.
Meloni was received at the airport by
Minister of State for Health Bharti Pawar. The Italian prime minister is being
accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation.
PM Modi said that India and Italy are
celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year and New Delhi will
further strengthen this relationship.
Italian PM Lands in Delhi for Dialogue
with PM
"This year India and Italy are
celebrating the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relationship. India will
further strengthen its relationship with Italy in the fields of renewable
energy, hydrogen, IT, telecom, semiconductors and space," PM Modi said.
Modi also announced establishing a
'Start Up Bridge' between India and Italy and said that the two countries will
begin a new chapter in defence cooperation.
"In the defence manufacturing
sector in India, opportunities for co-production and co-development are arising
which can be beneficial for both the countries. We have also decided to conduct
regular joint exercise and training courses," Modi added.
The multifaceted bilateral relationship
is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth,
collaboration in the fields of green energy, science and technology, defence
and marked by convergence on regional and global issues, the External Affairs
Ministry said.
The two countries have also been
cooperating closely in various multilateral forums, it added. Italian Foreign
Minister Antonio Tajani and Union Commerce Minister
Piyush Goyal will co-chair a business roundtable on Thursday.
The Raisina
Dialogue is a multilateral conference held annually and will be inaugurated by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Ministry of External Affairs is
organising the Raisina Dialogue in collaboration with
the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) from March 2-4.
The conference, which is being
organised under the theme "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence:
Lighthouse in the Tempest?" and it will see the participation of representatives
from over 100 countries.