PM Modi Welcomes Spanish President Sanchez at AI Summit, Boosting Ties

The meeting between the two leaders comes shortly after President Sanchez's arrival in New Delhi to participate in the prestigious summit. The Spanish President was warmly greeted at the airport by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the visit in a post on X. "Welcome, President of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon @sanchezcastejon for the India-AI Impact Summit. Warmly received by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship @jayantrld. The visit of President Sanchez will add further impetus to the ongoing celebrations of India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI," Jaiswal said.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, commenced on February 16 and will continue until February 20. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, it has convened government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance discussions on artificial intelligence.

The summit reflects on AI's transformative potential, aligning with India's national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity. It features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.

This landmark event forms part of an evolving international process to strengthen global cooperation on AI governance, safety, and societal impact. Guided by three foundational Sutras--People, Planet, and Progress--the summit promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits, environmentally sustainable AI advancement, and inclusive economic and technological progress.

The high-profile Spanish President's visit and his meeting with Prime Minister Modi build on the long-standing cordial relations between India and Spain, established since diplomatic ties began in 1956.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official bilateral visit to Spain on May 30-31, 2017. The leaders have since met on the sidelines of G20 Summits in 2018 and 2021, and spoke on telephone on February 15, 2023, expressing confidence in the growing bilateral partnership.

Further engagements include External Affairs Minister meetings with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2022 and September 2024, alongside Albares's bilateral visit to India in June 2022 and his participation in G20 events in India in 2023.

More recently, Spain's Third Vice President and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, visited India from February 7-9, 2024.

President Sanchez's current participation in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi further bolster these multifaceted ties, particularly in the context of the ongoing India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI.

- ANI