Indian PM comes together with Greek PM after 40 years to discuss ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a day visit to Athens, the capital of Greece, for the first time in 40 years since September 1983, according to sources.

Modi met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and made statements about the meeting at the joint press conference.

"In the defense and security sector, we agreed to strengthen our military ties and defense industry. The two countries will also aim to double bilateral trade by 2030. In addition to the defense and security sectors, we decided to strengthen bilateral relations in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, education, and technology,” Modi said.

Indian Prime Minister emphasized that the two countries have signed an agreement on agricultural production that will also allow cooperation in research, animal breeding, and animal products, and Greece wants to facilitate the migration of skilled people, so they will soon sign an agreement on mobility and migration. Modi said the two countries aim to double trade by 2030.

INDIA- GREECE RELATIONS IMPROVING

In his statement regarding the meeting, Mitsotakis stated that trade between India and Greece reached 1.32 billion euros in 2022. Drawing attention to economic cooperation in the tourism, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors, Mitsotakis stated that it is of great importance to have direct flights between Greece and India.

India and Greece established diplomatic relations in May 1950. India opened its resident Embassy in Athens in March 1978. Interaction between India and Greece goes back to antiquity. In modern times, the two countries have developed a warm relationship based on a common commitment to democracy, peace, and development in the world and to a social system imbued with principles of justice and equality. India and Greece also share common approaches to many international issues, such as United Nations (UN) reforms and Cyprus. Greece has consistently supported India’s core foreign policy objectives. India opened its resident Mission in Greece in 1978.

The relationship has progressed smoothly over the last 65 years. Bilateral VVIP visits have taken place regularly. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited Greece in April 2007. Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis visited India in January 2008. India and Greece share a common approach to many initiatives including UN reform and the Cyprus issue. Greece participated with India in the Six-National Delhi Declaration on Nuclear Disarmament in 1985.

The two countries held Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on 20 September 2016 and the discussion focused on various issues of bilateral, regional, and international importance.

Source: ABC News