PM Modi holds bilateral meets with French Prez Macron, German Chancellor Scholz, Canadian PM Trudeau

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and discussed issues of mutual interests.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit here, he also met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and African Union President Azali Assoumani.

All the leaders congratulated Modi for a successful G20 Presidency.

Prime Minister Modi has invited Chancellor Scholz to India next year for the next round of the Intergovernmental Commission, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

This was the chancellor’s second visit to India this year, following his State Visit in February.

The two leaders reviewed the progress in their bilateral Strategic Partnership and also discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence, green and sustainable development, critical minerals, mobility of skilled personnel and education. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

After his meeting with Scholz, Modi said he thanked the German leader for enriching the G20 Summit with his views. “Also discussed how India and Germany can continue working together in clean energy, innovation and work towards a better planet,” Prime Minister Modi wrote on X.

Scholz said at the summit, leaders successfully engaged in a new interaction between the North and the South. “We will continue to pursue ambitious objectives in tackling climate change and state that the G20 have taken a clear stand against the violent principles of Russia’s policy,” the German chancellor posted on X.

After his bilateral meeting with Rutte, Modi said they talked about ways to enhance friendship between the two nations.

“The scope of cooperation for our businesses is immense. We also look forward to strong ties in clean energy, semiconductors, digital technology and more,” Modi said.

Prime Minister Rutte also congratulated Modi for the success of India’s G20 Presidency and the summit. He also congratulated India on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and conveyed his best wishes for the Aditya L1 mission to study the Sun.

The two leaders discussed ways to deepen their bilateral partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, semiconductors, and cyber and digital technology, among others, the PMO later said in the statement.

“Discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest,” it added.

On his meeting with Macron, Prime Minister Modi said they discussed a series of topics. “A very productive lunch meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. We discussed a series of topics and look forward to ensuring India-France relations scale new heights of progress,” Modi said.

Both the countries share close ties and strategic partnership.

In his meeting with Modi, Nigerian President Tinubu thanked the prime minister for ensuring the permanent membership of the African Union in the G20, and for promoting the interests of the Global South.

“Both leaders held productive talks on various areas of wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, including in trade and investment, defence, agriculture, millets, financial technology and capacity building,” the PMO said.

On his meeting with Assoumani, Modi said it was a very fruitful discussion.

“Congratulated him once again on African Union joining the G20 family. Comoros is vital to India’s SAGAR Vision. Our deliberations included ways to enhance cooperation in areas like shipping, trade and more,” Modi said.

Assoumani, who is the President of the Union of Comoros and chairs the African Union, thanked Prime Minister Modi for his initiative and efforts in making the African Union a permanent member of the G20.

“He shared his particular pleasure that this had occurred during India’s G20 Presidency, considering India’s role and links with Africa. He felt this would also give a boost to India-Comoros relations,” the PMO said.

Modi congratulated the African Union on joining the G20 and highlighted India’s efforts to articulate the Voice of Global South and recalled the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India in January 2023.

Both the leaders discussed their bilateral partnership and expressed satisfaction at the numerous initiatives underway. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas such as maritime security, capacity building and development partnership.

Prime Minister Modi said he discussed a full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors in his meeting with Trudeau.

On his meeting with South Korean leader Yeol, Modi said the deliberations were extensive.

“Reviewing the complete spectrum of bilateral relations, we agreed to further boost commercial and cultural ties between India and the Republic of Korea,” Modi said on X.

The South Korean president also congratulated the prime minister on the success of the Chandrayaan mission.

“The leaders noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. They reviewed progress on various areas of bilateral Special Strategic Partnership, including in trade and investment, defence production, semiconductors and EV battery technology,” the PMO said.

On his meeting with Turkiye’s President Erdogan, Modi said they talked about ways to further cement trade and infrastructure linkages between the two countries.

The PMO said discussions took place on bilateral cooperation potential in areas such as trade and investment, defence and security, civil aviation and shipping.

President Erdogan also thanked India for the prompt relief under Operation Dost after the earthquake in Turkiye in February and congratulated Prime Minister Modi on the success of the Chandrayaan Mission. He conveyed best wishes for the Aditya mission.

On his interaction with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Modi said it was an “excellent meeting.” “Ties between India and Brazil are very strong. We talked about ways to boost trade and cooperation in agriculture, technology and more. I also conveyed my best wishes for Brazil’s upcoming G20 Presidency,” Modi said.

Discussions took place on ways to strengthen India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, including cooperation in bio-fuels, pharmaceuticals, agro-based industries, space and aviation.

The prime minister also held a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel in which subjects such as improved connectivity, trade and technology featured prominently.

“India-EU cooperation in futuristic sectors, including green hydrogen, is very laudatory,” Modi said.

In her post on X, the European Commission’s president thanked Modi for his skilful leadership of the G20. “A strong partnership with India is paramount for Europe. Glad to see our Trade & Tech Council in action. And to have launched with you an historic project, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor,” she said.

The PMO said the discussions with the EU leaders focussed on various aspects of the India–EU Strategic Partnership, including the next India-EU Summit, ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations, climate change and LiFE, digital technology and the Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

The leaders also discussed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor that was launched on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

“They felt that there should be expeditious implementation of the corridor. The prime minister also highlighted the possibilities of solar projects under the corridor,” the PMO said.

On Friday, Modi held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Mauritius’ Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

On Saturday, he held a series of meetings, including with UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.