Team Blitz India
IN his first overseas visit after assuming office for the third term in a row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 Summit at Apulia, in Italy, on June 14.
He also addressed the Outreach Session on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. In his meeting with US President Joe Biden, the PM said India and the US will keep “working together to further global good.”
The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washington’s allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in his talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The two leaders also reaffirmed the shared commitment of the two countries to further strengthen bilateral relations.
They also expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two countries.
During his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen partnership, including in areas of defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity and culture. In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PM Modi conveyed that India continues to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Thanks Italian PM
PM Modi also met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. This was their first face-to-face meeting after Trudeau claimed that Indian Government agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.
During his talks with Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, PM Modi thanked her for the invitation to participate in G7 Outreach Summit and conveyed his appreciation for the successful conclusion of the Summit. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
PM Modi also held a meeting with Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, and affirmed that ties between the two countries will continue to receive priority in his third term. The Prime Minister also met Pope Francis and invited him to visit India.
