Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating her on becoming Italy’s longest-serving prime minister since the end of the Second World War, saying relations between India and Italy are now “stronger than ever.”
Meloni expressed appreciation for Modi’s message and his friendship, while highlighting the growing strategic relationship between New Delhi and Rome.
She said the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries reflects both the importance of their bilateral relationship and their determination to combine their respective strengths to generate new opportunities for economic growth.
“The Special Strategic Partnership that we launched during our last meeting is a recognition of the importance of this bond and of the will to unite the expertise of our Nations to create new opportunities for growth,” Meloni said.
She added that India and Italy have “extraordinary opportunities for collaboration” and should work together to capitalize on them.
Meloni also emphasized the potential for the two countries to strengthen economic and strategic connections between Europe and Asia.
A key part of that cooperation, she said, will be advancing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, an ambitious connectivity initiative designed to strengthen links between India, the Middle East and Europe.
“I am certain that Italy and India, together, will continue to strengthen the bond between our Continents as well, working side by side also to develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor,” Meloni said.
Her remarks underscore the increasingly close relationship between New Delhi and Rome, with both governments seeking to expand cooperation under their Special Strategic Partnership and deepen economic connectivity between India and Europe.
