PM Modi to travel to Italy for G7 summit, hold bilateral meetings with world leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 50th G7 summit in Italy on June 14, marking India's 11th participation. Key topics include AI, energy, and global challenges. Modi will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, emphasising India's global engagement and strategic partnerships.
Prime Minister Modi will attend the 50th G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, on June 14. India has been invited as an outreach country, marking India's 11th participation in the G7 summit. The Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other leaders, further solidifying India's position on the global stage. This marks Modi's first international visit after being re-elected as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "(The visit) will afford (the Prime Minister) 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."
On June 14, Modi will participate in the outreach session. Kwatra said the focus would be Artificial Intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.
"India has been consistently making (efforts in) trying to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development, and environment preservation ... India has so far organised two sessions of the Voice of the Global South summit, aimed at raising the interest priorities and concerns of the Global South," Kwatra added.
Kwatra said key priorities for the current year are the conflicts in Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East, with their consequences for the global agenda; relationship with developing nations and emerging economies with a focus on Africa and the Indo-Pacific region; migration and climate energy linkages, food security; and Artificial Intelligence.
"The Prime Minister's participation would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit held held under India's presidency last year," Kwatra added.
He said Modi would hold bilateral meetings and discussions with G7 leaders and those of the outreach countries and international organisations. Modi will also meet with Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Melloni, where the two leaders will discuss strategic partnerships focusing on defence, Indo-Pacific energy, and science and technology.
"Italy is India's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at $15 billion. It 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. The two prime ministers are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and give directions for the next steps," Kwatra added.
According to sources who have spoken with CNN-News18, PM Modi's delegation for the summit is likely to include key officials such as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Kwatra, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region from June 13 to 15, will see the participation of several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled to address a session on the Russian invasion.
The G7 summit, which includes the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan, is hosted by Italy, the current presidency holder, who invited India to participate.
The bloc expanded into the G8 between 1997 and 2013, including Russia. However, Russia's participation was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. In line with its tradition, representatives of several countries and international organisations are invited to the summit by the host nation that holds the chair. Besides India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit.
Though the European Union is not a member of the G7, it attends the annual summit.
Last year, PM Modi had attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima. He had held talks with Zelenskyy and other world leaders on the summit's sidelines.
Prime Minister Modi's participation in the G7 summit represents India's global engagement and commitment to addressing pressing international issues. As the summit unfolds, all eyes will be on the discussions and outcomes that emerge from this important gathering of world leaders.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "(The visit) will afford (the Prime Minister) 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."
On June 14, Modi will participate in the outreach session. Kwatra said the focus would be Artificial Intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.
"India has been consistently making (efforts in) trying to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development, and environment preservation ... India has so far organised two sessions of the Voice of the Global South summit, aimed at raising the interest priorities and concerns of the Global South," Kwatra added.
Kwatra said key priorities for the current year are the conflicts in Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East, with their consequences for the global agenda; relationship with developing nations and emerging economies with a focus on Africa and the Indo-Pacific region; migration and climate energy linkages, food security; and Artificial Intelligence.
"The Prime Minister's participation would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit held held under India's presidency last year," Kwatra added.
He said Modi would hold bilateral meetings and discussions with G7 leaders and those of the outreach countries and international organisations. Modi will also meet with Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Melloni, where the two leaders will discuss strategic partnerships focusing on defence, Indo-Pacific energy, and science and technology.
"Italy is India's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at $15 billion. It 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. The two prime ministers are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and give directions for the next steps," Kwatra added.
According to sources who have spoken with CNN-News18, PM Modi's delegation for the summit is likely to include key officials such as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Kwatra, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region from June 13 to 15, will see the participation of several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled to address a session on the Russian invasion.
The G7 summit, which includes the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan, is hosted by Italy, the current presidency holder, who invited India to participate.
The bloc expanded into the G8 between 1997 and 2013, including Russia. However, Russia's participation was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. In line with its tradition, representatives of several countries and international organisations are invited to the summit by the host nation that holds the chair. Besides India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit.
Though the European Union is not a member of the G7, it attends the annual summit.
Last year, PM Modi had attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima. He had held talks with Zelenskyy and other world leaders on the summit's sidelines.
Prime Minister Modi's participation in the G7 summit represents India's global engagement and commitment to addressing pressing international issues. As the summit unfolds, all eyes will be on the discussions and outcomes that emerge from this important gathering of world leaders.
(Edited by : Vijay Anand)
First Published: Jun 12, 2024 9:02 AM IST
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