Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak during the bilateral meeting in New Delhi on September 09, 2023.
New Delhi: On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of Britain, Italy, and Japan.
In the meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is on his first visit to India since becoming Prime Minister in October 2022, the two leaders reviewed the progress of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest so that a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking FTA is concluded soon.
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The two leaders noted with satisfaction the progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation as per the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as the Roadmap 2030, particularly in economy, defence and security, technology, green technology and climate change, health and mobility sectors. Both leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of importance and mutual interest.
Modi invited PM Sunak for a bilateral visit at an early, mutually convenient date for a more detailed discussion. Sunak, who accepted the invitation, also congratulated PM Modi on a successful G20 Summit. Modi conveyed his appreciation for the United Kingdom’s support during India’s G20 Presidency, marked by high-level participation at various G20 meetings and events.
In his bilateral meeting with Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Both Modi and Kishida discussed the various facets of the India-Japan bilateral partnership, including infrastructure development, technological collaboration, investments and energy. During the meeting, the leaders acknowledged the constructive dialogue between the two countries throughout the year on their priorities for their respective G-20 and G-7 Presidencies, particularly in bringing the concerns and aspirations of the Global South to the fore.
During the bilateral meeting with Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, Modi appreciated Italy’s support for India’s G20 Presidency and Italy’s joining of the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor.
This was the second visit of Prime Minister Meloni to India following her State visit in March 2023, during which bilateral relations were raised to the level of a Strategic Partnership. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the completion of 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also took stock of the progress in diverse areas of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and agreed to bolster cooperation in areas like defence and new and emerging technologies. They noted the need for G7 and G20 to work in consonance with the greater global good. Meloni congratulated Prime Minister Modi for a successful G20 Summit.
– global bihari bureau
