Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the bond between India and Italy on Saturday, following a selfie video shared by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The video, taken during their bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, featured both leaders smiling and waving at the camera.
In response to Meloni’s post, which quickly went viral and garnered nearly four million views, PM Modi expressed his sentiments on X, saying, “Long live India-Italy friendship!” accompanied by the flags of both nations.
“Hi friends, from Melodi,” said the Italian PM – a post which has gone viral on social media, getting nearly four million views in a few hours.
The visit marked PM Modi's first international trip since starting his third term in office and his fifth consecutive participation in the G7 summit. Reflecting on his previous visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021, Modi highlighted the importance of Prime Minister Meloni's two visits to India last year, which significantly enhanced bilateral relations.
In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasized the commitment to strengthening the India-Italy strategic partnership and boosting cooperation in regions like the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean.
“Prime Minister Meloni’s two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth into our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions,” the Prime Minister had said in his departure statement.
During their meeting on Friday, both leaders reviewed the progress of their strategic partnership and acknowledged the success of their political dialogue. Meloni congratulated Modi on his re-election, while Modi thanked her for the invitation to the G7 Outreach Summit and praised the event's successful conclusion.
They discussed the expansion of commercial ties, focusing on sectors such as clean energy, manufacturing, space, science and technology, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. The leaders welcomed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Industrial Property Rights, which will facilitate cooperation on patents, designs, and trademarks.
The discussion also included defense and security cooperation, with plans to enhance industrial collaboration in defense. Both leaders anticipated the visits of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and the training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year.
Looking ahead, they expressed eagerness for joint activities under the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, they touched on key regional and global issues, agreeing to bolster cooperation in international forums and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
“The two, while expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks,” said a late-night statement released by the Indian Prime Minister’s office.
“Both leaders look forward to joint activities to be implemented under the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative framework to fulfill their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also discussed important regional and global issues and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor,” the PMO added.
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