'Welcome to Rome, my friend!': Giorgia Meloni welcomes PM Modi to Italy
Rome, May 20
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Italy as he arrived in Rome on Tuesday night on the final leg of his five-nation tour.
Extending a personal greeting to the Indian Prime Minister, Meloni posted on X: "Welcome to Rome, my friend!", underlining the close rapport between the two leaders.
PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Meloni and meet President Sergio Mattarella.
PM Modi also shared details of his arrival, saying he had landed in Rome for an official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, where both leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to further deepen the India-Italy strategic partnership.
Sharing details of the visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: "Scripting a new chapter in the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Rome on an official visit to Italy. He was warmly received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani of Italy."
He added, "India and Italy share a longstanding and multifaceted partnership. The visit is set to add new momentum to the India-Italy partnership."
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit comes amid growing momentum in bilateral ties, with both countries actively implementing the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. The roadmap covers cooperation in trade, investment, defence, clean energy, innovation, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
"A comprehensive road map for cooperation in various sectors, including in bilateral trade, which reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025; boosting investment, which has recorded a cumulative FDI of USD 3.66 billion (April 2000-September 2025); defence and security; clean energy; innovation; science and technology; and people-to-people ties," the MEA stated last week.
The MEA also stated that the visit would further strengthen India's engagement with Europe, especially in trade and investment, following the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
PM Modi had last visited Italy in June 2024 to attend the G7 Summit.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I like how our PM is forging ties beyond just the usual big powers. Italy has so much to offer in design, engineering, and clean energy. And with the EU FTA recently signed, this visit is perfectly timed. Hope we see more Italian investment in India's manufacturing sector.
Finally, India is getting the recognition it deserves. From G7 invitations to warm welcomes in Rome, it's clear the world sees us as a key partner. The USD 16.77 billion trade figure is promising, but I think we can double that in the next few years. Let's go, India! 🚀
It's nice to see such personal diplomacy. But I hope beyond the photo ops and nice tweets, there are concrete outcomes for ordinary Indians. More Italian companies setting up here means jobs. More Indian IT exports to Italy means growth. Let's see the follow-through.
As someone who follows global diplomacy, I find this interesting. The Villa Doria Pamphili is a historic venue, and the joint declaration on strategic partnership sounds serious. India is clearly becoming a key player in the Mediterranean region. Makes sense given our maritime security interests.
I'm curious about the defence and security cooperation mentioned. Italy has some solid naval expertise, and with our focus on the Indian Ocean, this could be a win-win. Also, clean energy partnership - Italy is a leader in solar and green tech. Let's hope this isn't just another agreement on paper.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.