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PM Modi Arrives in Italy for G7 Summit, Bilateral Talks

The MEA spokesperson said the agenda of the visit includes participation in the outreach session and, on the sidelines, several bilateral meetings with world leaders are also lined up…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in southern Italy’s Apulia region to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit’s Outreach Session on Friday. During the day-long visit, he will also hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders.

“Landed in Italy to take part in the G7 Summit. Looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders. Together, we aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.

Prime Minister Modi has arrived at Brindisi Airport in Italy to participate in the G7 Summit, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a video message from the airport.

The MEA spokesperson said the agenda of the visit includes participation in the outreach session and, on the sidelines, several bilateral meetings with world leaders are also lined up.

Sources said that the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before leaving for the outreach session – which majorly focuses on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean.

Later, he is expected to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.

While there is a chance of them meeting informally during the official photo-op, there is no scheduled bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday told reporters en route to Brindisi that US President Joe Biden and PM Modi will have an “opportunity to encounter one another” during the G7 session.

“President Biden actually spoke with Prime Minister Modi over the phone while we were in Paris to congratulate him on the election outcome and on being named Prime Minister for a third term,” said Sullivan.

“He expects to see Prime Minister Modi here. It’s up to the Indians to formally confirm his attendance, but we expect that the two of them will have the opportunity to encounter one another. What the nature of that encounter will be is still fluid because so much of the schedule is fluid,” the US NSA added.

This is Prime Minister Modi’s first overseas visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term, and his fifth consecutive participation in the Summit.

It will be for the 11th time that India will be taking part in the G7 Summit.

READ MORE- Ukraine Dominates G7 Agenda

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Delhi

15 rounds of military-level talks have taken place between the two sides to resolve the issue…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who landed in Delhi on Thursday evening, is expected to hold bilateral talks on trade and the pending border dispute in Ladakh that is almost two years old now.

Yi is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday.

This is the first high-level Chinese diplomatic visit to India in over two years since the border dispute began between the two countries in Eastern Ladakh.

So far, 15 rounds of military-level talks have taken place between the two sides to resolve the issue.

Yi’s visit to Delhi is part of his ongoing South Asia tour. He was in Kabul on Thursday morning, following his participation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad, where he had raked up the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

In Islamabad, Yi had said: “On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope.”

India, however, had rejected the “uncalled reference” to Kashmir during Yi’s speech in Islamabad.

“Matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are entirely the internal affairs of India. Other countries, including China, have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues,” spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, had said on Wednesday while reacting to Yi’s comments.

The Chinese Foreign Minister is expected to be in Nepal from March 25-27.

ALSO READ-China’s Wang Yi in Kabul