G7 Summit: PM Modi To Address Outreach Session, Meets World Leaders & Pope

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy on Friday.

Modi, who arrived in Apulia in the early hours of Friday, met French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to address the Outreach session of the summit, where he was greeted by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni with a ‘namaste’.

The two leaders exchanged pleasantries before Modi was ushered to the main venue. Like with most global leaders, Modi shares a good rapport with Meloni.

In the one-on-one meetings earlier, Modi and Macron discussed a wide range of issues, such as increasing partnership in key areas like defence, AI, critical tech and space.

Modi also offered his best wishes to Macron for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

“Had an excellent meeting with my friend President @EmmanuelMacron. This is our fourth meeting in one year, indicating the priority we accord to strong India-French ties. Our talks covered numerous subjects such as defence, security, technology, AI, Blue Economy and more. We also discussed how to encourage innovation and research among the youth. I conveyed my best wishes to him on the hosting of the Paris Olympics, which begins next month,” Modi wrote on X.

In his meeting with Sunak, the two leaders talked about the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, enhancing industrial cooperation in the defence sector, boosting trade and commerce, and more.

“It was a delight to meet PM @RishiSunak in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive 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 tweeted.

Modi and Zelensky discussed various issues, including improving India-Ukraine ties. The Ukrainian President briefed Modi on various aspects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict which has been going on since February 2022.

“Had a very productive meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine. Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy,” Modi stated on X.

The Indian PM also met Pope Francis at the G7 Summit venue.

Watch the video shared by ANI:

This is Modi’s first foreign trip after being sworn in as India’s Prime Minister for a record-equalling third term.