Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that he will be leaving for Apulia region in Italy to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit on 14 June 2024 at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. PM Modi also said in the statement that it will be his first visit since assuming the office for the third consecutive term.
Recalling his visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021 and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s two visits to India in 2023, Modi said that the two countries remain committed to consolidate the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions.
Yesterday, Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, informed that the visit will afford the PM an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India, as also to the Global South. This will be India’s 11th participation in G7 Summit and Prime Minister Modi’s fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit, he said.
Kwatra stated that on 14th of June, the main day for the G7 Outreach Summit, Prime Minister will participate in the Outreach Session along with the other countries invited for the Outreach Summit. At this Session, the focus would be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. It will be a bloc agenda item where the G7 and the Outreach Countries would share their views and perspective, he added.
Further, he said that the G7 Summit under Italian presidency has chosen some key priorities for the current year including conflicts in Russia-Ukraine, Middle-East, with its consequences for the global agenda; relationship with developing nations and emerging economies with focus on Africa and the Indo-Pacific region; migration, together with climate energy linkages and food security; and artificial intelligence.
PM Modi’s participation in the G7 Summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit, held under India’s presidency last year, and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South, the Foreign Secretary stated.
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy, Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings and discussions with the leaders of the G7, as also the Outreach Countries and the international organizations.
Further, Kwatra informed that Prime Minister is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy, which is India’s fourth largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at $15 billion. Italy is also a partner in several global initiatives launched by India, including the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative, Global Biofuel Alliance, and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, both of which were launched during the G20 Summit in India, he informed.
In the meeting, the two Prime Ministers are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and give directions for next steps. Other bilateral meetings between Honorable Prime Minister and the other world leaders present at the G7 Summit are being scheduled, the Foreign Secretary said.
