PM Modi shares outcomes of Italy visit, thanks Giorgia Meloni and people for their friendship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wrapped up his Italy visit, the final stop of his five-nation diplomatic tour focused on deepening India’s strategic, political, and economic engagement with key global partners.

During the visit, PM Modi held extensive talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and announced the elevation of India-Italy relations to a “Special Strategic Partnership,” giving fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

“Concluding a very productive visit to Italy”, PM Modi said in a post on X, “My discussions with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni covered a wide range of sectors. A key outcome of the visit was our decision to elevate India-Italy ties to a Special Strategic Partnership, which will add new momentum to our cooperation in the years to come. I thank Prime Minister Meloni, the Government of Italy and the wonderful people of Italy for their friendship.”

“A Special Strategic Partnership that will not only benefit our nations but also the entire humanity! The outcomes from my Italy visit will ensure more investment linkages, better trade opportunities, closer cultural linkages and more,” he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the visit significantly deepened cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, advanced technologies, connectivity, and Indo-Pacific engagement. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit generated “fresh momentum” in bilateral ties, which have been steadily expanding since the relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 during PM Meloni’s visit to India for the G20 Summit.

PM Modi held delegation-level talks with his Italian counterpart, focusing on trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, innovation, space cooperation, artificial intelligence, education, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Addressing a press conference, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George said both leaders also discussed major global and regional developments, including the situation in West Asia, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, energy security, and resilient supply chains.

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit in areas such as defence cooperation, critical technologies, agriculture, traditional medicine, connectivity, education, culture, research, and mobility.