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Spanish President Arrives for AI Summit, Boosting India-Spain Ties

Spanish President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon has arrived in New Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he was received by Minister Jayant Singh. The summit, running from February 16-20, is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South and aims to advance discussions on AI governance and its societal impact. Guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, it focuses on human-centric and environmentally sustainable AI development. The visit is seen as strengthening the cordial diplomatic relations between India and Spain, which have seen several high-level exchanges in recent years.

Key Points: Spain's President Attends India AI Impact Summit 2026

  • Spain's President visits for AI Summit
  • Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
  • Aims for human-centric, sustainable AI
  • Part of India-Spain Dual Year celebrations
  • Over 110 countries participating
3 min read

President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon arrives in india to attend AI Impact Summit

Spanish President Pedro Sanchez visits India for the AI Impact Summit, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and global AI cooperation.

President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon arrives in india to attend AI Impact Summit
"The visit of President Sanchez will add further impetus to the ongoing celebrations of India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. - Randhir Jaiswal"

New Delhi, February 18

President of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon arrived in India to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 AND was greeted by Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X wrote, "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."

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it started on February 16 and will run up to February 20, 2026.

The Summit brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, aims to reflect on the transformative potential of, AI aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit will have participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, about 45 Ministers.

The AI summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence.

They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

Relations between India and Spain have been cordial since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid an official bilateral visit to Spain on 30-31 May 2017. The Prime Ministers of India and Spain met on the sidelines of G20 Summits in 2018 and 2021 and they spoke on telephone on 15th February 2023, in which they expressed confidence in the growing relations between the two countries.

EAM met FM Jose Manuel Albares in New York on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2024 and September 2022. FM Albares had paid a bilateral visit to India in June 2022. FM Albares had also visited India twice in 2023 to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meet in March 2023 and the G20 Summit in September 2023.

The Third Vice President and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge,Teresa Ribera, visited India from 7th - 9th February 2024.



- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech, I'm thrilled to see India taking a leadership role in shaping the global AI conversation. The focus on People, Planet, and Progress is crucial. International cooperation, like with Spain, is key to ensuring AI is developed responsibly and ethically.
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Priya S
Welcome to India, President Sanchez! It's great to see the India-Spain relationship strengthening, especially in cutting-edge fields like AI. The Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and AI sounds like a wonderful initiative. Hoping for more student exchange programs in STEM fields.
R
Rohit P
While summits are good for diplomacy, I hope the outcomes trickle down to the common person. We need policies that ensure AI doesn't widen the digital divide in India. The focus should be on affordable AI solutions for agriculture, healthcare, and education in rural areas.
M
Michael C
Impressive scale - 110 countries and 30 international organizations. New Delhi is becoming a true hub for global policy discussions. The 'AI for Humanity' principle is one everyone can get behind. Curious to see what joint declarations or frameworks come out of this.
K
Kavya N
Bharat Mandapam is the perfect venue for this! It's good to see our ancient concept of 'Sutras' being used to frame modern tech discussions. The environmental pillar (Planet) is especially important. AI data centers consume massive energy; sustainable innovation is a must.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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