India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his first international trip of his third term to attend the G7 Summit in Italy, marking his fifth consecutive participation at the invitation extended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Accordingly, ahead of the G7 Outreach session, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral discussions with several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on enhancing bilateral ties.
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Discussions during the morning meetings encompassed crucial agendas such as the ongoing negotiations for a UK-India Free Trade Agreement, bolstering Indo-French defense cooperation, and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These engagements were conducted on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversations with various leaders during the G7 Summit underscored key diplomatic efforts and commitments.
Accordingly, the historic meeting between PM Modi and Joe Biden drew huge attention. Following his meeting with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Modi affirmed their commitment to advancing global welfare through continued collaboration. This meeting marked a significant engagement after recent tensions related to allegations concerning an Indian link to a foiled plot in the US, with India initiating a high-level investigation in response.
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Additionally, Prime Minister Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed the progress of the India-Italy strategic partnership. Both leaders expressed optimism over the burgeoning economic ties and underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in clean energy, manufacturing, space technology, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. Both leaders lauded the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Property Rights, which sets a framework for cooperation in patents, designs, and trademarks. They also looked forward to enhancing defense and security cooperation, including the upcoming visits of Italian naval vessels and aircraft carriers to India.
In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, giving prominance to human-centric approach. They also discussed India’s participation in the upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy expressing gratitude for India’s involvement.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi’s bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron centered on reviewing India-France relations under the ‘Horizon 2047’ initiative. Discussions spanned defense cooperation, nuclear energy, space technology, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural exchanges, including partnerships between national museums. Both leaders agreed to deepen strategic defense cooperation with a focus on initiatives like ‘Make in India’. They also pledged cooperation in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, energy, and sports, and discussed joint participation in future international events like the AI Summit and United Nations Oceans Conference hosted by France.
Prime Minister Modi and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a personal meeting to discuss bilateral relations and mutual interests. They revisited the agenda of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations, which are set to resume after the UK’s upcoming general election. These negotiations seek to significantly boost bilateral trade, which is currently valued at approximately 38.1 billion pounds annually.
At the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Modi also met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the first time since the G20 Summit, where they discussed bilateral relations amidst recent allegations concerning the Indian government. Furthermore, Modi also met with Pope Francis, inviting him to visit India and acknowledging the Pope’s dedication to global service and environmental stewardship.
During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India and Japan’s mutual interest in collaborating across various sectors, including defense, technology, semiconductors, clean energy, and digital technology. Both leaders highlighted the importance of strong India-Japan relations for fostering stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, Japan’s 5 trillion yen in investment in India and the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership also underscore the manufacturing cooperation between the countries.
Overall, Prime Minister Modi’s engagements at the G7 Summit highlighted India’s proactive diplomatic initiatives and commitment to strengthening global partnerships across various domains. His discussions with world leaders underscored India’s role in fostering peace, stability, and economic cooperation on the international stage.
