Rome/New Delhi, Oct 29 (FN Agency) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held wide-ranging talks with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on issues covering trade and investment ties, climate change, Covid-19, and global and regional developments. This was the Prime Minister’s first official engagement in Rome after he arrived earlier in the day for the 16th G20 Summit. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said on the talks: “Wonderful meeting with @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen and @eucopresident Charles Michel. We had wide-ranging talks on deepening the India-EU friendship, particularly in areas such as trade, commerce, culture and the environment.” The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on the talks: “Deepening ties between India and EU! “PM @narendramodi met European Council President Charles Michel @eucopresident & European Commission President @vonderleyen.
“An extensive discussion covering trade & investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global & regional developments.” The two sides also discussed ways to enhance people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet. In a tweet, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “Official engagements in Rome begin with a productive interaction with @eucopresident Charles Michel and @vonderleyen, President of the @EU_Commission. “The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet.” Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived in Rome, Italy, to attend the 16th G20 Leaders’ Summit. He was received by senior officials of the Government of Italy and the Ambassador of India in Italy Neena Malhotra. The G20 is the first in-person Summit of the grouping since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. His visit, from October 29-31, is at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. He will later travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom, from November 1-2 at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for the COP26 summit.