Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a state visit to Slovakia, the first by an Indian leader since the central European country’s independence in 1993.
During his visit, the Prime Minister invited his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico to visit India, saying he was happy that the leader openly accepted his invitation.
The two leaders on Monday held talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, while elevating India-Slovakia ties to a comprehensive partnership, ANI reported. “I am delighted that I had the opportunity today to meet him and witness a historic moment in our relations. This visit marks the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia. I am happy that on this historic occasion, we have decided to elevate our relations to a comprehensive partnership,” Prime Minister Modi said in a joint press statement with Slovenian Prime Minister Fico in Bratislava.
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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome from Fico against the backdrop of the historic Bratislava Castle. The Prime Minister arrived in Nice, France on Saturday and held bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders jointly inaugurated ‘Bharat Innovates’. Prime Minister Modi will return to France on Tuesday to attend the G7 summit to be held in Evian on June 16-17.
Modi and Fico discuss new ways of cooperation
While reviewing bilateral relations between India and Slovakia, Modi and Fico also discussed new avenues of cooperation across key sectors, including trade, investment, defence, security, technology, innovation, space, nuclear energy, education and culture, as well as talent mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
Even as External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the “result list” of the meeting between the leaders, Prime Minister Modi described the meeting as a “win-win” for both countries. “A win for India-Slovakia friendship!” Prime Minister Modi said.
Modi and Fico also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including reforms at the United Nations, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. “India and Slovakia are also moving forward with close coordination on the global stage. We agree that all disputes and tensions must be resolved peacefully,” Prime Minister Modi said in his address.
The meeting between the two leaders also led to agreements and understandings in several fields, including digital technologies, defense, cybersecurity, post-quantum technologies, audio-visual creativity, mobility, and scientific cooperation, including in the field of nuclear energy. Prime Minister Modi said that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between India and Slovakia on labor migration, which would enhance the mobility of professionals and skilled workers between the two countries. “We will also soon finalize a memorandum of understanding on social security,” PM Modi added.
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Meanwhile, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Slovak Prime Minister Fico expressed his support for the recently concluded India-Europe Free Trade Agreement (FTA), citing it as one of the most “ambitious” deals ever negotiated.
“It is one of the most ambitious free trade agreements ever signed, and Slovakia is a country that not only welcomes this agreement, but will take all necessary and practical steps to ensure the implementation of this agreement as quickly as possible,” Fico said.
