"My good friend Narendra...": Cypriot Prez Christodoulides shares candid selfie moment with PM Modi as India-Cyprus elevate bilateral ties
New Delhi, May 22
While India and Cyprus on Friday upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership level, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides took a moment to capture a selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to celebrate stepping into a "new era" of partnership between the two countries.
The visiting Cyprus President also took to X to post the selfie at the Hyderabad House in the national capital.
"Prime Minister Modi, @narendramodi My good friend Narendra, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to you personally, and to the people of India for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me and my delegation.I feel exceptionally honored and privileged to be in Delhi for this State visit, almost a year since your historic visit to Cyprus", Christodoulides wrote.
During the visit of Cypriot President, New Delhi and Nicosia further deepened their bilateral partnership. The two countries decided to set up a joint task force on cooperation in key sectors such as infrastructure, shipping, and economic cooperation.
Addressing a joint press conference after delegation-level talks alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, President Christodoulides highlighted how during the discussions, the leaders reaffirmed that the ties have entered a new era, with results being seen across domains such as security, defence, tech and maritime cooperation.
Further, Christodoulides hailed the booming relationship between India and the European Union, while forcefully backing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a "visionary initiative."
Christodoulides, whose country currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, emphasised that Cyprus is uniquely positioned to act as a "trusted, stable, reliable bridge" between New Delhi and Brussels.
During his remarks to the press at the joint press statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the elevation of India-Cyprus relations to Strategic Partnership, stating that it will infuse new ambition and momentum into the relations between the two countries. PM Modi highlighted the deep bond between both countries, noting that the investment from Cyprus has nearly doubled over the past decade.
India and Cyprus also exchanged several MoUs, reflecting the growing multifaceted bilateral cooperation as a part of the India-Cyprus strategic partnership.
Christodoulides arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, following the Mumbai leg of his four-day State visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.
The Cyprus President was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, and senior officials and business leaders. The engagement carries heightened diplomatic weight as the visit comes less than a year after PM Modi's landmark trip to Cyprus in June 2025, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Mediterranean nation in over two decades.
While in Mumbai, the Cyprus President participated in a business forum specifically aimed at boosting commercial and investment ties between the two nations, with a strong focus on expanding broader economic engagement.
With both nations looking to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, officials have described this state visit as a crucial step in building on the growing momentum of the bilateral partnership and strengthening cooperation within the broader India-European Union framework.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Loved the warmth between the two leaders! Cyprus President calling PM Modi 'my good friend' is a testament to India's rising stature. But I do hope this partnership translates into more concrete trade opportunities for small Indian exporters, not just big corporates. The MoUs sound promising.
IMEC corridor is a game-changer! Cyprus backing it gives it more credibility in the EU. But let's be honest, we need to see real infrastructure projects on the ground, not just handshakes and selfies. Still, better than the old days when India was ignored. Modi ji's foreign policy is top-notch 👌
As an American watching this, I'm impressed by India's diplomatic momentum. Cyprus is a small but strategic country in the Mediterranean, and India securing this partnership shows smart foreign policy. The joint task force on shipping and infrastructure could be a model for other EU-India collaborations. Well done!
Such a proud moment for India! From being a peripheral player to having world leaders line up for strategic partnerships with us. Christodoulides calling Cyprus a 'bridge' between India and EU is exactly the role we need. Hope the investment flows back into education and healthcare too. 🇮🇳✨
The selfie diplomacy is cute, but I'm curious about the details of the MoUs signed. What exactly does 'strategic partnership' mean for an ordinary Indian? Will it create jobs? The article says investment doubled, but we need to see more Indian companies expanding into Cyprus beyond the usual IT and pharma. Still, positive step forward.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.