Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Rome for the G20 summit and this is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister visited Italy in 12 years. PM Modi arrives in Rome at an invitation by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. During his tour from October 29 to October 31, the Prime Minister will visit Rome and the Vatican City.

“PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Rome, will be his first visit to the Italian capital after assuming office. It’ll also be the first visit by an Indian PM to Rome in almost 12 years,” Indian ambassador to Italy Neena Malhotra said.

G20 is a global forum whose members account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent population. The theme of this G20 meet under the Italian Presidency is centred around 'People, Planet and Prosperity.' The Summit is being attended by heads of state, governments of G20 member countries, the European Union and other invited countries and international organisations.

The Prime Minister said that India is creating new records in collective effort for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience and forging multilateral alliances. PM Modi said India is among the top countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy, wind and solar energy capacity.

The Ministry of external Affairs earlier said in a statement that Prime Minister Modi was received by senior officials of the Government of Italy and Ambassador of India in Italy.

PM Narendra Modi then met President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and held an extensive discussion covering trade and investment ties, climate change, Covid-19, global and regional developments.

“Official engagements in Rome begin with a productive interaction with @eucopresident Charles Michel and @vonderleyen, President of the @EU_Commission. The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet,” Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.

“Deepening ties between India and EU! PM @narendramodi met European Council President Charles Michel @eucopresident & European Commission President @vonderleyen. An extensive discussion covering trade & investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global & regional developments,” Ministry of external Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter.

European Commission President Leyen on Twitter said, “I congratulated India for its excellent progress on vaccination and for resuming vaccines exports. We need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic.”

After the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Piazza Gandhi in Rome.

On 30 October, PM Modi will have an informal meeting with Pope Francis, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has said.

The “meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will take place on Saturday, October 30,” KCBC president Cardinal George Alenchery said in a statement.

PM Modi in his departing statement from India to Italy said, “Following the conclusion of the G20 Summit on October 31, I will depart for Glasgow to attend the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I will be participating in the high-level segment of COP-26 titled ‘World Leaders’ Summit’ (WLS) on 1-2 November, 2021 along with 120 Heads of States/Governments from around the world.”

 “I will also highlight the need to comprehensively address climate change issues including equitable distribution of carbon space, support for mitigation and adaptation and resilience-building measures, mobilisation of finance, technology transfer and inclusive growth,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that the COP26 summit will also provide an opportunity to meet with all the stakeholders including leaders of partner countries, innovators and Inter-Governmental Organisation and explore possibilities for further accelerating India’s clean growth.

Image Courtesy: Twitter