Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday wrapped up an action-packed day in southern Italy, where he held several bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit. “Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality,” PM Modi said in a post on X before departing. His plane later landed in New Delhi at around 10 am on Saturday. Here are the leaders Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit:
An important G7 Summit, where I presented India’s perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights. pic.twitter.com/amU77yJ79Z— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2024
Emmanuel Macron
The Prime Minister said he had an excellent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, their fourth meeting in one year, and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership. The meeting with Macron is Modi’s first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month.
Rishi Sunak
The Prime Minister met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership in the third term of the NDA government. “There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector,” Modi wrote. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal described the meeting between the two leaders as “fruitful.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Modi conveyed to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through “dialogue and diplomacy”.
The upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine also figured in the Modi-Zelenskyy talks held on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia and the Ukranian president thanked the prime minister for sending a high-level delegation to the conclave over the weekend in Switzerland. During the meeting, Modi told Zelenskyy that India believes in a “human-centric” approach to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Giorgia Meloni
The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni here during which they discussed defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. “The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Pope Francis
Modi on Friday invited Pope Francis to visit India and said he admired the pontiff’s commitment to serving the people. They met with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in Apulia, southern Italy where they joined other world leaders to deliberate on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. Modi and the BJP have made several overtures to the Christian community before the general elections in the country.Joe Biden
On the margins of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia region, Modi also had a separate interaction with US President Joe Biden. The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washington’s allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. “It’s always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good,” the prime minister said.
Justin Trudeau
Modi held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. On his interaction with Trudeau, Modi posted on ‘X’: “Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit.” Both Modi and Trudeau were seen greeting each other during the encounter. It is not immediately known what transpired between Modi and Trudeau.
Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit. pic.twitter.com/e67ajADDWi— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024
Japan’s Fumio Kishida
On the sidelines of the G7, the Prime Minister also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the importance of “a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.” “Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages,” the PM said.
Germany’s Olaf Scholz
Modi also met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with whom he discussed the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and how the two sides can play a major role in furthering global growth. “Today’s interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable,” Modi wrote on X.
UN chief Guterres and Jordan King Abdullah
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Presidents of Brazil, Turkey, UAE
The Prime Minister was also seen having a discussion with Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The interactions in Italy continue…Delightful conversation with the President
@LulaOficial, President@RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed,” he wrote on X.
Modi’s Outreach Speech — ‘Tech Monopoly’
In an address at the Outreach session of G7 at Italy’s Apulia region, PM Modi said the world community must work towards converting the monopoly in technology into mass usage to lay the foundation of an inclusive society and help eliminate social inequalities. He also said India will work with all countries to make Artificial Intelligence transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible. The prime minister said India’s approach in the field of energy is based on four principles — availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. Highlighting the challenges facing the countries of the Global South, Modi said they are bearing the brunt of uncertainties and tensions around the world.
‘Victory of democracy’
The Prime Minister also highlighted the recently-held Lok Sabha elections in his address at an outreach session of the G7 summit and said the “blessings” that the people of India have given in the form of a historic win in the polls is a “victory of democracy”. The prime minister in his speech also shared some figures to underline the mammoth scale of the world’s largest democratic exercise in India which was held between April 19 and June 1 in seven phases. “The blessings that the people of India have given in the form of this historic victory is a victory of democracy,” Modi said, adding that it is a “victory” for the entire democratic world.
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