PM Modi Meets Italian Counterpart Mario Draghi Ahead of G20 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held the first in-person meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here during which the two leaders had extensive talks on diversifying the bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived here earlier in the day at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, was received by Draghi upon his arrival at Palazzo Chigi for the meeting.

“Prime Ministers @narendramodi and Mario Draghi meet in Rome. The two leaders held extensive talks on diversifying India-Italy ties, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. Modi was also accorded a guard of honour.

“Synergising the India-Italy Partnership! PM @narendramodi was received by the Italian PM Mario Draghi, as he arrived at Palazzo Chigi for their first in-person meeting. Both leaders inspected the guard of honour before proceeding for delegation level talks, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

“PM @narendramodi & PM Mario Draghi reviewed the 2020-2025 Action Plan of India-Italy bilateral partnership, and reiterated the commitment to further expanding trade and investment linkages," he said. They also “resolved to cooperate for accelerating clean energy transition to fight climate change," Bagchi added.

Italy is among India’s top five trading partners in the EU. India ranks 19th as country of origin of Italian imports, accounting for 1.2 per cent of Italian imports. Italy ranked 18th in FDI inflows in India during April 2000 to December 2020 with FDI inflow of USD 3.02 billion during this period. In his departure statement on Thursday, Modi said he will be visiting Rome and the Vatican City from October 29-31.

“During my visit to Italy, I will also visit the Vatican City, to call on His Holiness Pope Francis and meet Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin," Modi said. From Rome, Modi will travel to Glasgow, the UK, at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the leaders mainly discussed the G20 summit, along with the situation in Afghanistan, and the Indo-Pacific.

Modi also held wide-ranging talks with the top leaders of the European Union here during which the two sides discussed deepening the India-EU friendship, particularly in areas such as trade, commerce, culture and the environment.

The PM was on Friday greeted by a jubilant and cheering Indian diaspora, who recited hymns and chanted his name to welcome him on his visit to Italy. In a video shared on social media, Prime Minister Modi was seen in a happy mood, walking along a park cloaked with heavy security, greeting and shaking hands with the members of the Indian diaspora.

Before meeting the Indian community, Modi paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Piazza Gandhi. The community members, holding Indian flags, were seen chanting Modi’s name cheerfully, with the Indian leader reciprocating by waving to the crowd.

With folded hands and full attention, Prime Minister Modi listened to the recital of hymns by a group of members, who also offered a bunch of books to him. Modi also joined them in reciting “Om Namah Shivay" at the end. He praised their effort and also exchanged a few words with them.

With inputs from PTI.

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