‘Looking Forward To Talks With World Leaders’: PM Modi In Italy For G7 Summit; Several Meetings Lined Up

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in southern Italy on Friday to attend the Outreach session of the G7 Summit and hold “productive discussions” on a wide range of issues with world leaders, including a possible bilateral with US President Joe Biden.

“Landed in Italy to take part in the G7 Summit. Looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders. Together, we aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future,” PM Modi wrote on social media platform X shortly after landing at Brindisi Airport in Italy.

Several bilateral meetings

In a video message from the airport, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Friday will be a packed day for the Prime Minister. “We have several bilateral meetings with world leaders lined up. He will also be addressing the Outreach session of the G7 Summit,” he said.

During his day-long visit, Modi will be participating in a summit session entitled Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean to be hosted by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and joined by Pope Francis. The Pope is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Modi, who has a series of meetings scheduled with the world leaders on the sidelines of the summit being held at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia.

Meloni will welcome Modi

On Friday, the Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, will welcome Modi as the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy. In her opening address on Thursday at the meeting of the G7 leaders – US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel – she said southern Italy was chosen as the venue to send a strong message to the Global South.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is set to dominate the agenda as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived for the discussions on Thursday. In his pre-visit media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had recalled Modi’s statement in September 2022 that “today’s era is not of war”. “We have always been at the forefront to offer assistance wherever we can to alleviate challenges faced by the Global South because of the conflict, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and also to the Global South affected by conflict,” he said.

Departure statement

“I look forward to meeting fellow world leaders and discussing a wide range of issues aimed at making our planet better and improving lives of people,” said Modi, in a departure statement on Thursday evening. He said he was ”glad” that his first foreign visit in his third consecutive term as Prime Minister was to Italy for the G7 Summit.

“I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister Meloni’s two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth in our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidate the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions,” his statement reads.

“During the discussions at the Outreach session, the focus would be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. It will be an opportunity to bring greater synergy between the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India’s Presidency and the forthcoming G7 Summit and deliberate on issues which are crucial for the Global South. I am also looking forward to meeting other leaders participating in the summit,” he added.