New Delhi, 11 April (IANS). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Italy’s University and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini in New Delhi on Friday.
During this time, there was significant and positive talks between the two countries regarding cooperation in areas like trade, investment, maritime cooperation, education, technology, research and culture.
After the talks, Foreign Minister Jaishankar shared information on the social media platform X and said that India and Italy’s partnership is constantly developing and it is moving ahead according to the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, a joint strategic action plan fixed by the leaders of both countries. This action plan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in Rio in November 2024.
The objective of this scheme is to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and get concrete results that can benefit both countries. During this, Jaishankar also informed that the leaders of the two countries have directed that the exchange of business, research, innovation and talent should be promoted in collaboration with respective industries, scientific institutions and higher educational institutions.
Addressing the India-Italy Business, Science and Technology Forum, Jaishankar said that in the last few years, India has worked towards creating a reliable and strong partnership with countries with similar thinking. This includes not only economic interest but also strategic priorities. He said that Italy is very high in this list, as the two countries have complementary resources and capabilities of each other in areas such as energy, transport, food processing and engineering.
Jaishankar said that India is increasing its influence in the Indo-Pacific sector and Italy is playing an active role in the Mediterranean region. In such a situation, many avenues of mutual benefit can open with cooperation between the two countries. He said that the “India-Midil East-Europe Economic Corridor” (IMEC) scheme, which launched during India’s G20 chairmanship, can prove to be a new economic and energy-communication route for the world, also known as “Cotton Road” in Italy.
Jaishankar expressed confidence that this strong partnership between India and Italy will contribute significantly to global development and stability in future.
-IANS
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