"Visit marks important milestone": President Murmu arrives in Romania on State Visit
Bucharest, July 23
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday as part of her three-nation State Visit in Eastern Europe, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the visit "an important milestone" in further strengthening the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between the two countries.
President Murmu was received at the airport by Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana-Silvia Toiu.
In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn arrived in Bucharest on a State Visit to Romania. She was warmly received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana-Silvia Toiu of Romania at the airport."
Highlighting the significance of the visit, he added, "The visit marks an important milestone in further strengthening the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between India and Romania."
According to the MEA, Romania is President Murmu's final stop of her three-nation visit. The visit by the President from July 23 to 25 is at the invitation of Romania's President Nicusor Dan. The visit will be the first by an Indian President to Romania in over three decades.
In Romania, the President will meet President Nicusor Dan, interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Senate President Mircea Abrudean, Chamber of Deputies President Sorin Grindeanu and members of the Romania-India Parliamentary Friendship Group. She will also address the India-Romania Business Forum and interact with members of the Indian community.
Highlighting Romania's significance, the MEA said, "Romania is a valuable partner in the European Union and with the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, bilateral economic partnership would strengthen further in the coming years."
Earlier on Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu, along with her North Macedonian counterpart Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, visited the Memorial House of Mother Teresa in Skopje to pay tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The two leaders visited the memorial in the capital city, honouring Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje in 1910 and resided there until 1928.
Continuing their joint cultural engagements in the capital, President Murmu and her counterpart Siljanovska-Davkova also jointly unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Skopje Museum.
Highlighting the significance of the unveiling, the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated in a post on X, "The President expressed confidence that the bust will stand as a lasting symbol of friendship between India and North Macedonia and of the common commitment of both countries to peace, tolerance and humanity."
These commemorative events followed a series of high-level bilateral and parliamentary engagements held as part of the Indian Head of State's official itinerary in Skopje.
— ANI
Reader Comments
We are finally waking up to Eastern Europe! For too long, our foreign policy was too focused on the US and Russia. Romania is a key EU member and a gateway to the Balkans. The business forum and free trade agreement talks are what will really matter – trade, not just photo ops. Hope the President's team follows up on tangible outcomes.
Nice to see heads of state honouring Mother Teresa and Gandhi abroad. But beyond the ceremonies, I hope the India-EU FTA gets some real push. India needs to diversify its trade partners, especially with China tensions. Romania could be a manufacturing base for Indian companies targeting the EU market. Just my two cents...
As an outsider, I find this visit interesting. India is clearly balancing its global strategy - engaging with EU nations like Romania while maintaining ties with Russia. The Gandhi bust unveiling in Skopje and the Mother Teresa tribute are smart soft power moves. But are there concrete economic agreements? That's what really matters for long-term relations.
I appreciate the diplomatic efforts, but let's be honest – how many Romanians even know where India is on a map? We need more people-to-people exchanges, not just top-level visits. Student exchanges, tech partnerships, maybe direct flights? That would make the relationship real. The FTA is promising but it's been talked about for years. Seeing is believing.
Love the cultural diplomacy – Gandhi in Skopje, Mother Teresa tribute – India knows how to use history and values to build bridges. 🇮🇳 But I wonder if the diaspora engagement goes both ways
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