Rome: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Rome and held an extensive discussion covering trade and investment ties, climate change, Covid-19, global and regional developments.
This was Prime Minister Modi’s first official engagement after he arrived here to participate in the G20 Summit where he will join other leaders in discussions on global economic and health recovery from Covid-19, sustainable development and climate change.
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.
“During my visit to Italy, I will also visit the Vatican City, to call on His Holiness Pope Francis and meet Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin,” PM Modi said on Thursday.
In his departure statement on Thursday, Modi said he will be visiting Rome and the Vatican City from October 29-31 at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, following which he will travel to Glasgow, the UK, from November 1-2 at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The prime minister said on the sidelines of the G20 Summit he will also meet with leaders of other partner countries and review the progress in India’s bilateral relations with them.
European Commission Prez congratulates India on ‘excellent progress’ on Covid-19 vaccination.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday congratulated India for its “excellent progress” on vaccination against COVID-19 and for resuming vaccine exports, saying there is a need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic.
The top European Union official said this after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with European Council President Charles Michel during which they discussed trade and investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global and regional developments.
Her remarks came as India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark on October 21.
“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,” European Commission President Leyen said on Twitter.
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