New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with his Japanese, British and Italian counterparts Saturday, on the sidelines of the ongoing G20 Summit here. The leaders discussed a range of issues from connectivity and trade to defence, the Global Biofuels Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Modi met prime minister Fumio Kishida of Japan after the first session of the G20 Summit (‘One Earth’). The two leaders called for improved cooperation to achieve the 5 trillion yen-target for Japanese public and private investment in India by 2027.
Furthermore, Modi and Kishida also discussed the construction of a high-speed rail, for which Japan will facilitate a loan of 400 billion yen, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Japan is among the top five foreign investors in India and was India’s 13th-largest trading partner in 2021.
Held productive talks with PM @kishida230. We took stock of India-Japan bilateral ties and the ground covered during India's G20 Presidency and Japan's G7 Presidency. We are eager to enhance cooperation in connectivity, commerce and other sectors. pic.twitter.com/kSiGi4CBrj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2023
Apart from infrastructure projects, the two leaders also discussed numerous impending initiatives such as Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), which will enable administrative officials who “play a leading role in Japan-India relations” to study in Japan. The theme of ‘Japan-India tourism exchange year’ for 2023, as agreed upon in March this year, also figured in the bilateral talks.
Kishida also explained to Modi Japan’s position on the release of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean, which elicited sharp reactions from its neighbours.
Modi’s second bilateral meeting Saturday was with UK PM Rishi Sunak, during which the two leaders agreed to “cement a modern partnership”.
New Delhi and London also agreed to continue cooperation on issues of economy, defence, technology, climate change, health and more, within the framework of the ‘India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Roadmap 2030’.
Great to have met PM @RishiSunak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. We discussed ways to deepen trade linkages and boost investment. India and UK will keep working for a prosperous and sustainable planet. pic.twitter.com/7kKC17FfgN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2023
According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi and Sunak also addressed the advancement in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between the two countries and “expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest so that a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward looking Free Trade Agreement is concluded soon”.
India and the UK have been in negotiations on a FTA since 2021. So far, the two countries have held 12 rounds of negotiations and, of 26 chapters in the proposed FTA, 19 have been closed. The thirteenth round of negotiations were expected to take place sometime this month.
While Sunak emphasised that the G20 was not the forum to discuss an FTA, he maintained that both he and Modi are “keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries. But trade deals always take time and need to work for both countries.”
However, the UK has reiterated that it does not plan to alter its migration policies to secure the FTA. The Sunak administration has been committed to reducing net migration since assuming office last year.
Meanwhile, Modi also invited the British leader for a bilateral visit “at an early, mutually convenient date” — an invitation Sunak accepted, according to the MEA.
Lastly, PM Modi held talks with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in the spheres of defence and emerging technologies, within the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
This is Meloni’s second visit to India since coming to power last year. During her state visit to India in March this year, New Delhi and Rome had elevated their ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
I had excellent meeting with PM @GiorgiaMeloni. Our talks covered sectors such as trade, commerce, defence, emerging technologies and more. India and Italy will keep working together for global prosperity. pic.twitter.com/mBtyczMjB0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2023
Prior to their bilateral talks with Modi, Sunak and Meloni had held talks Friday on issues such as threats of artificial intelligence and immigration challenges, among others.
Alla vigilia del #G20 in India ho incontrato il Primo Ministro del Regno Unito @RishiSunak. Una piacevole e utile occasione di confronto sui principali temi internazionali, sulle sfide poste dall'intelligenza artificiale e su una questione fondamentale per entrambi i nostri… pic.twitter.com/JXs6zVRrld
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 8, 2023
Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Turkiye, the UAE, South Korea, EU, Brazil, and Nigeria, a working lunch with French president Emmanuel Macron and a pull-aside meeting with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau Sunday, after the conclusion of the G20 Leaders Summit.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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