Italy and India set to upgrade ties during Modi's visit to Rome

Italy and India will seek to reinforce ​diplomatic and trade ties during Prime ​Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Rome ‌by ​elevating their relationship to that of a special strategic partnership, an Italian government official said on Tuesday. Like other European countries, Italy ‌has looked to India as an ally during a period of geopolitical upheaval. The European Union earlier this year concluded a long-delayed trade deal with India, partly aimed at reducing its reliance ‌on the United States. Modi's trip is his first bilateral visit to Italy, following his attendance ‌at a G7 summit in June 2024 and a G20 gathering three years earlier. He will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday at the 17th-century Villa Doria Pamphili.

The two leaders will adopt a ⁠joint declaration ​to strengthen their partnership, ⁠including through annual heads-of-government summits and a target of reaching 20 billion euros ($23.2 billion) in bilateral trade by 2029, ⁠the official, who asked not to be named, said. Bilateral trade totalled more than 14 billion euros ​in 2023, according to the website of the Italian embassy in New Delhi.

The G20 ⁠members, which established a strategic partnership in 2023, have already expanded cooperation in sectors including scientific research, trade and ⁠artificial ​intelligence, the official said. Modi and Meloni will attend a working lunch with senior executives from leading Italian and Indian industrial groups, who will exchange views on how to further ⁠strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Agreements will also be signed covering maritime transport, agriculture, higher education, critical ⁠minerals, museum cooperation and ⁠the fight against economic and financial crime, the official said. Meloni and Modi will also discuss major international issues including the Middle East, Ukraine ‌and security ‌in the Indo-Pacific.

($1 = 0.8610 euros)

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