Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday said that India as president of G20 may play a central role in facilitating the negotiation process for cessation of hostilities for “just peace” in Ukraine.
Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meloni added that Italy aimed to strengthen its partnership with India on defence and energy security, as well as cybersecurity and other areas. She added that PM Modi is among the “most loved leaders around the world.” The visiting Italian leader held talks on bilateral, regional and global issues with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House in the national capital today.
“We hope that India having a G20 presidency can play a central role in facilitating a negotiating process for the cessation of hostilities (in Ukraine). Keeping the multilateral community together is important and we hope the Indian presidency can do it even more,” the Italian PM said.
“PM Modi knows he can rely on us, on our cooperation for the G20 summit, to further enhance our relationship. I believe there is a lot we can do together,” Meloni said.
PM Meloni said Italy wants to further boost this relation and “this is the reason why we have decided to turn our partnership into a strategic partnership because we have very solid relationship.”
The Italian Prime Minister said that India can very well represent in terms of even of leadership, represent the requirements of the countries of the Global South.
“And we definitely do want to give a helping hand along this process to India. Prime Minister Modi knows very well Italy’s position, which is giving full support to the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” she said.
“And I think that in the previous ballot G 20 summit, it has been important to hold the multilateral community united.
And we hope that the Indian presidency can do even more on this and further confirm our friendship,” she added.
The Italian PM also lauded PM Modi for having the highest approval ratings in the world and said that he had proven to be the major leader of the world.
“I am not sure if this will lead me to the approval rating that Prime Minister Modi has reached. I think he’s the most loved one of all around the world. But, I mean, this has really proven that he has been a major leader,” Meloni said.
Referring to the trade ties with India, the Italian PM said it has touched a record figure of almost Euro 15 billion. She further stated that her government is planning to project intense activism in the Mediterranean sea, which is connected to the Indo-Pacific.
Emphasising the similarities between India and Italy, Meloni said, “We have many similarities. We are two peninsulas, we are 2000 old traditions, relatively younger states, and regions which have hard fought for their independence, for their freedom. So I think that there are many elements which bring us close to each other for the preservation of identity, which is one of the basic conditions to preserve the rights of one loan people. So there’s a lot to be working on together, starting from some sectors where we want to enhance our cooperation.”
