India and Italy will discuss the entire gamut of their bilateral ties during talks here between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni. She is visiting New Delhi from March 2-3 and is also the chief guest and keynote speaker at the prestigious Raisina Dialogue from March 2-4.
Giving details of her schedule, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said here on Monday, the Italian Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high powered business delegation.
This will also be the first bilateral VVIP visit from Italy to India after five years. The last Prime Ministerial visit from Italy to India took place in October 2018, the MEA said. Meloni will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Meloni will hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on Meloni. The visiting dignitary will call on President Droupadi Murmu in the afternoon of March 2.
India and Italy are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. The multifaceted bilateral relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of green energy, science and technology, defence and marked by convergence on regional and global issues. The two countries have also been cooperating closely in various multilateral forums, the MEA said.
During the visit, a business roundtable will be organised on March 2 co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
Prime Minister Meloni's visit is expected to further strengthen and deepen the long-standing relationship between India and Italy. Both sides will take stock of the progress on the key outcomes of the November 2020 Summit, strengthen security and defence cooperation, work towards closer economic ties, enhance opportunity for mobility of talent and give strategic guidance to ongoing collaboration in Science and Technology, the MEA said.
