In a meeting held in New Delhi between Greece’s PM, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and India’s PM, Narendra Modi, the two countries, Greece and India have vowed to boost their bilateral ties.
Ekathimerini reported that Mitsotakis was the first Greek PM visit to India in 16 years, and upon visiting, he hailed India’s progress in multiple sectors including defence, technology, tourism, security, investments, education, culture, and agriculture.
Mitsotakis said, “In every area our cooperation shows great promise”.
“In Modi I have found a visionary, a principled leader and a true friend,” he added.
The Greek PM further highlighted Greece’s pivotal role as India’s gateway to Europe, citing the potential of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Οι επενδύσεις αποτελούν σημαντικό στόχο των διμερών μας σχέσεων. Έχουμε ήδη πραγματοποιήσει σημαντικές ελληνικές επενδύσεις στην Ινδία, σε πολλούς τομείς, όπως της παραγωγής τροφίμων, των υποδομών και των logistics. Και, βέβαια, η Ινδία αρχίζει επίσης να επενδύει στην Ελλάδα. pic.twitter.com/bZue3xFl62
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) February 21, 2024
Stressing the need for peace in the Middle East, Mitsotakis emphasised stability as crucial for regional prosperity.
“Greece – you just have to look at a map to realize this – is India’s gateway to Europe and through IMEC we see our participation as a very important aspect of this strategic partnership,” he said.
“But in order to achieve this we need peace in the Middle East. Stability is the necessary condition for every project that aims to increase the prosperity of the greater region for the benefit of all countries involved,” he added.
The Greek Prime Minister stated that India has a critical role to play in this endeavour.
“…. We view India as one of the main pillars of stability and security in the broader region of the Indo-Pacific,” Mitsotakis said.
“We consider our country to constitute a pillar of stability in our own region, the Eastern Mediterranean, and it is this mutual commitment to peace that has brought us so close.”
The Indian PM, Modi further underscored the goal of doubling trade transactions between Greece and India by 2030, and said his discussions with Mitsotakis were “extremely satisfactory”.
Both countries have agreed to initiate a new action plan marking the 95th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
Source: Ekathimerini.